Topic: What spuds to plant for Christmas

[rosebud]

Hi can anyone help me out please. Cheers Rosebud.

[saddad]

A second early like Charlotte... good salad variety, not a main crop as they can be slow to bulk up and that can be a problem with the low light levels...
 ;D
Just buy a small pack from a shop as seed are hideously expensive at this time of year...
 ::)

[Jeannine]

I always do Charlottes too

[rosebud]

I really wanted to plant some for roasties would they be alright??

[saddad]

Never tried, but probably not... need a floury rather than waxy one. Pentland Javelin is fairly common and roasts OK...
 :-\

[quizzical1]

We saved some of our second earlies (Bambino) which had gone a little green (to near the surface) to plant for Xmas. They're now chitting away on the windowsill.

I'd guess anytime within the next couple of weeks would be about the right time to plant for Xmas, with about 16 weeks left to go?

[cornykev]

Do they have to be seconds I was going to put some firsts (Accent) in, and do they have to chit or throw them straight in.  ;D ;D ;D

[Barnowl]

Have roasted Milva successfully.

[rosebud]

Thank you very much for the spuds names for roasties folks . Rosebud.

[OllieC]

do they have to chit or throw them straight in.  ;D ;D ;D

I thought I chitted mine to give them a head start... so I wasn't going to do this for my Crimbo ones...

[Fork]

Do they have to be seconds I was going to put some firsts (Accent) in, and do they have to chit or throw them straight in.  ;D ;D ;D

See how it is when you lift your spuds and leave the odd one in the ground.It always grows the next season......without chitting!

So do we need to chit in the first place ?

[cambourne7]

gardeners world did this last year, they found higher yeilds on chited potatoes.

[rosebud]

Would i have to put them in any special place to chit them such as a dark place or leave them in the greenhouse, i shall be getting them this weekend.

[kt.]

Didn't know you could plant spuds so late in the year.

[lidd63]

I didn't either! Where do I plant to keep my crop rotation up?

[Barnowl]

I assumed they were  being planted in bags / pots next month so they could be brought under cover when it frosts..........

[Barnowl]

Would i have to put them in any special place to chit them such as a dark place or leave them in the greenhouse, i shall be getting them this weekend.

Advice from RHS
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0903/Christmas_potatoes.asp

I wouldn't worry about chitting if you are using the tub method of building up the soil as the plant grows.

[cornykev]

The vegtable & herb expert. Dr. D. G. Hessayon   Quote.   Christmas Potatoes.   New potatoes for Christmas Dinner - something of a gamble but worth trying if you want to beat the Jones's. When lifting your crop of first earlies in July set a few tubers aside. Plant them in a warm spot in the garden and look after them in the normal way. In late September cover the plants with large cloches and then get busy on Christmas Eve.  ;D ;D ;D