Topic: Potatoes for Christmas.

[grannyjanny]

I have just bought a bag of Lady Balfour from the supermarket. I was wondering if they are OK to plant now for Christmas potatoes. Obviously not at the plot as they are not seed potatoes. I would grow them in containers.

[daxzen]

go for it!

i put a row in this morning - specially for xmas

[grannyjanny]

Which did you put in daxzen? I've got some Vivaldi coming from T&M this month too

[aob9]

Alll of the info seems to point towards setting these "late" potatoes in containers. Is there some wisdom against planting them directly into the ground in a polytunnnel. The only thing I would be worried about is my Tomatoes getting blight towards the end of their season and infecting my lovely potatoes.

[chriscross1966]

Alll of the info seems to point towards setting these "late" potatoes in containers. Is there some wisdom against planting them directly into the ground in a polytunnnel. The only thing I would be worried about is my Tomatoes getting blight towards the end of their season and infecting my lovely potatoes.

If you're in a tunne;l then don't spray water overhead, blight needs water to germinate tyhe spores. By the time you're bringing the pots into the tunnel  you'd be well  past the need to overspray the toms (to help fruit set I guess) so should be OK...... I've got some assorted first earlies going in small pots ATM, will move up to bigger pots soon, should have 5 pots with two plants in each...... they're 16" square tubs if that helps at all....

chrisc

[longalot]

my question, since have not tried this before? how do keep the temps from affecting the plants late in the season before harest in an unheated polytunnel.

[Jeannine]

Just to let you know. there is a another thread going on this which also has some good advice on. XX Jeannine

[longalot]

Jeannine could you provide a link to the other thread.

[Jayb]

Have a lookie here http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,61021.0.html