Topic: What is an early ?

[Flunky]

Would somone mind letting me know the different definitions of early etc. 2nd early etc etc.

[tim]

Earlies - harvest around July.

Second earlies - August.

Early maincrop - September.

Maincrop - October.

[allaboutliverpool]

I do not know how high Tim is in Little Rissington, but my earlies last year cropped in early June,10 weeks after planting on 25th March in Liverpool.

I did a YouTube of that planting:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL8ZknMQclM

[tim]

Oh, yes - I agree - we've had them in early June, with cover against the late frosts.

I was quoting a respected source as a starting point.

[Vortex]

I prefer the definition in terms of weeks to harvest

early = 10-12
second = 12-14
maincrop = 16-18
late = 20+

Like everything its all variable depending upon local conditions.

[Flunky]

Many thanks for your posts.

So, to work out when I sow the the seeds do I just work backwards ?

[antipodes]

Most people plant their earlies in March, mid to late, depending on how cold it is. By the time the potato plants are showing the danger of frost is often past. That should give you spuds starting in June.