more potato questions

[debster]

Im sure i read somewhere on this site that i could plant some potatoes up til about august for a late crop up to december but i cant find the topic now so two questions which variety are the best and secondly can i search for a topic by using a keyword somehow?

[debster]

[asbean]

We tried Carlingford one year, and Juliette last year.  Both really a dead loss, we didn't take enough care to keep the slugs off the haulms, and they didn't do well at all.  We will try again when we get our polytunnel, and try the late croppers in buckets.

We put the in late July.

[Tee Gee]

I have had reasonable results from selecting a few of my 1st earlies and growing them!

Depending upon weather you may or may not get a crop but it beats paying those extortionate prices for such as Carlingford and still getting the same success/failure rates.

[quizzical1]

Would the new potatos for xmas thing work better if you could keep the plants in a greenhouse?

[Tee Gee]

I tried last year in a greenhouse and it wasn't such a good idea.....too dry I think!!

This year I might do them in an open coldframe and as the weather deteriorates I will put the covers over them.

I suppose buckets outdoors then brought indoors might be an option!!

[asbean]

Buckets outside are a drag, I think.  When it's dark and nasty it is easy to forget that there's stuff that needs bringing in.  I'll wait till we have our polytunnel up, then water regularly.

[Barnowl]

I think I read that 2nd earlies in a container were best if you want a crop for Christmas - wouldn't that mean planting in mid to late  August?

Nope, found the RHS link - plant in September:

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

Also Fothergills:

http://fothergills.co.uk/en/content/late-crop-potatoes.aspx

[Tee Gee]

Thanks Barnowl.....then 2nd earlies it is this year!!

Come to think of it Carlingford does look a bit like Kestral

[tim]

I don't like containers because I can't keep them correctly moist.

Outdoors I've done sprouted shop Cara, Carlingford, Maris Peer & Franceline. The latter was the best. Cara was good. Carlingford was a failure.