Topic: First earlies

[sjg12]

OK stupid question but....

in the T & M Catalogue it says first earlies can be planted out from end of Feb, how do they go on with frosts? as when one or two of our allotment guys got caught out with a late frost that burned their potatoes last year they thought it was a disaster, does the frost do any harm ar are they resistant???

[MikeB]

All potatoes types 1st, 2nd and main crop can be damaged by frost.  The plants need to be 'earthed up' or covered by a fleece to protect them.

see http://www.hdra.org.uk/factsheets/gg9.htm

Regards

MikeB

[westsussexlottie]

If the tips of a potato plant get burned by frost the potatoes will still grow but it will check their growth i.e. you will get a later crop and not so many.
Repeated or very heavy ground frost could kill a plant.