Potatoes when and what to plant

[caseylee]

Hello there
I am looking to grow potatoes all year round, and I always hear different terms for this, does anyone know what type of potatoes and when I should plant them.  I always year earlies and second earlies ect, but Im not sure of the months I should plant them, what type, and when thye are ready for harvest.  Any help would be lovely.  Also do they have to grow in sun, or can I put them in the corner in the shade.
Thank you
Linda

[caseylee]

[springbok]

sounds like another chart :) listing potato's :) :) 

Kew Tee-Gee :)

[caseylee]

Yes Please Lol

[sarah]

I think i am right in saying that the terms early second early maincrop and late potatoes refer not to the planting times but to the harvesting times. your earlies will be ready much sooner than you maincrops. so , theoritically you can plant all your spuds at the same time.  wether you can grow spuds all year round i wouldnt like to say. i am sure that cleverer people than i might do that but i think most people grow earlies for 'new potatoes' and maincrop potatoes to store throught the winter.
yes they need sun and you can plant potatoes from about march onwards. some people have them in already but you have to take care of the weather forecast and cover any foliage if frost is forecast. 

[Barnowl]

I think this may the one where you plant your spuds when the soil is warm enough to sit on with a bare bum  ;D  or Good Friday or ......

Early crop - Late March to Early April

Main Crop - Early April to May

but some people put them in earlier having warmed up the soil up by covering it with e.g. cloches and then cover to protect against frost.

Helpfully a lot of people put them in  'when they're ready'.

I keep an eye on a chap on a nearby allotment  When his go in, mine go in :)

[betula]

After the flowers have died off and the foliage starts to die down.That is when you can harvest.They can be left in the ground for much longer.
When you harvest lay them on the ground for a while,if it is dry.
You can always have a little probe with your fork.I can never resist doing that. :)

[Lauren S]

I think this may the one where you plant your spuds when the soil is warm enough to sit on with a bare bum  ;D 

Heck, if that's the case I would never be able to plant out :o
Unless I was in the tropics   ;D

[antipodes]

You often find that the spuds come with the growing period on them, like earlies they are often 90 days from planting to harvest, seconds about 110 days, maincrop 130 etc. So you know when they are likely to be ready.

Considering the mild weather here (Brittany) I can plant the first earlies in about 10 or 15 days time. Then I will put the others at two week intervals, so a spud harvest each month over the summer...
I don't know if everyone does this but especially the earlies I dig them up as I need them or just pull out a few new spuds and leave the others another week or so.
I think they like some sun.
Hope this helps??

[Tee Gee]

Just found this thread to answer your question/s

I am looking to grow potatoes all year round, and I always hear different terms for this, does anyone know what type of potatoes and when I should plant them.

I don't know of anyone that GROWS all the year round but with careful planning you can eat your own potatoes all the year round or at least most of it e.g. mines last around ten months from eating first to last.

To think in terms of growing all the year round!  the cost wouldn't justify the end result.

I always year earlies and second earlies ect, but Im not sure of the months I should plant them, what type,

The easiest way to answer this one is direct you to my website potato page which is here; http://tinyurl.com/2tplbo

Regarding varieties this is just a matter of choice so I won't go into that, sufficient to say that you want 1st earlies,2nd earlies and maincrop.

I find the Xmas varieties a bit of a waste of time .............too expensive for the return. I think it is better to plant out some of you 1st or 2nd earlies and take a chance with these under cover.

But then watering comes in to play to dry and they won't bulk up, too wet and there is the possibility they  will rot in the colder conditions.

and when they are ready for harvest. 

This has been answered in the other replies.

Also do they have to grow in sun, or can I put them in the corner in the shade.

As with most plants they will fare better in the sun but will tolerate partial shade!e.g. a spot that gets some sunshine at some time in the day.

Sorry for not answering sooner but I have a tendency if a query is getting a good response to not always read that thread.

My assumption is; there are lots of good gardeners on these forums so I am quite sure the enquirer is being well looked after so I tend to spend my time answering questions on threads that are less busy.


Plus of late I have been busy with the planners and slide shows and not forgetting my allotment!!  ;D