Spud explanation needed.

[Gazfoz]

Can anyone tell me what the terms " First early, Second early and maincrop" mean.
I hope to have some of my first allotment cleared in a few weeks and have read that spuds are good to break the soil up.
When do I plant varieties of the above types? Or am I too late for some this year.

Gary.

[Gazfoz]

[tim]

Gary - look no further than this - http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,39628.0.html

I won't be planting for some time yet. I'm not one to 'beat the gun'.

Oh, & you can also plant in June for a late Autumn crop.

Nil desperandum!!

[Gazfoz]

Thanks for that Tim, as they are harvested at different times of the year does that also mean that they are sown at different times of the year or do some just take longer to develop?

[tim]

I'm not the expert, but ours all go in as soon as the ground is ready.

And they have a bit of sprout on them.

[Uncle Joshua]

I'll be planting my Duke Of York first earlies in the first week in April.

[kt.]

My first earlies will be in the week after next. Possibly my second earlies too. My late crop will be in 3-4 weeks later.

[springbok]

So does this mean the potato's I have chitted, not to put all of them in at once. 

Do I leave some to plant at a later date? 

[morton]

Maincrop can all go in together as they are harvested at the same time for storing. Earlies should be staggered if possible to maintain a supply of smaller 'new' potatoes. If you set them all at once they can get far too big and you lose that 'new' potato feel.
As stated previously I keep some early seed potatoes in the salad drawer in the bottom of the fridge to stop them from shooting. They are set from June to July to maintain a supply of smaller 'new' potatoes through to Christmas.

[Lindsay M]

I've got Maris Piper seed potatoes chittting away. They're maincrop, should they go in late May/early June?

[Billie]

Hi Gary,

Last year we planted ours on March 10th (Early's) and March 25th others. We didn't get Blyte as others did, but my Dads rule was if Easter is in March plant Early's on Good Friday and others a week later. Weather permitting I hope to plant mine 15th March- 21st march

Yours Billie