Topic: 1st earlies went in yesterday, frost forecast tonight...

[reddyreddy]

will they be ok or do I need to cover them  ???

[coznbob]

Personally I'd say if they were just put in, they will be fine under the ground. Its when they get frosted tops then they suffer. :)

[Digeroo]

I presume they are well covered with soil.  I have been digging up potatoes which I missed in the Autumn and they have been fine.  In fact will eat one for breakfast. :P

I have some I planted out for the Challenge and they are already showing green above the soil so I will be out soon to earth them up.

[saddad]

It won't penetrate far at this time of the year and the tubers are far more frost resisitant than the foiliage so nothing to worry about...  :)

[Le-y]

i was wondering the same thing!

so if the frost threatens when the foliage is out that's when we should be running to them with blankets and hot water bottles right ;) ?

[Philbasford]

We planted our potatoes about 2-3 weeks ago, all covered in fleece, am hoping they will be ok:(

[Robert_Brenchley]

They'll be fine. They'll just sit snugly underground till the soil warms up. If they didn't, we'd have no accidentals, and vastly less blight.

[cornykev]

As said they'll be fine, in two weeks time you will be asking were's my spuds gone, they'll be up well into April.   ;D ;D ;D

[reddyreddy]

Phew! Thanks!

Yes, that's a good point Robert! All the care I take chitting them and digging trenches, earthing up and yet the rogue ones grow just as well after a year sitting out unloved!  ::)

[SueK]

What about potatoes in containers?  Ours are still chitting, but hoping to plant ours out soon and there's still the chance of frost until mid May.