Anyone planted their spuds yet?

[Mrs Ava]

Well??  In the ground I mean, not in pots in the greenhouse.  Jack was on site today and he put his first 2 rows of earlies in, and another couple of plots obviously have been worked over the weekend and I would say spuds have gone in by the trenches and mounds (how do some people get them so smooth looking when mine are so lumpy!).  I am planning to get to the plot every morning this week, should I be taking my spuddies with me?

[Mrs Ava]

[Roy Bham UK]

Weather this weekend is forecast to be dry with temperatures close to 19°C (66°F) :o and I haven't dug and weeded yet :o :o let alone planted spuds ooh! err! :o :o better get my skates on ::) ;D

[tim]

Yes - pots & ground!

The pot ones got burnt by several frosts - in the cold 'house - so are still only 1-2" high.

[Moggle]

I have had 8 seed spuds (rocket) in the ground for about 3 weeks (since just before all that horrid snow) and put another 8 in the ground this weekend. These have been under fleece as per some instructions I got on here. Will try to wait another couple of weeks before putting the rest of the rocket in and then have some other earlies (concorde I think?) to go in then as well.
I love my spuds I does  ;D ;D

[wivvles]

I was planning on doing mine on Good Friday - but if it's fine on Sunday, they may well go in then.  I have a feeling that we're going to get some wet stuff in holy week.

[kenkew]

Traditionally spuds were planted during the works holiday break for Easter. Seasons are changing but looking at the state of my soil, the last weekend this month is going to be about right.

[Mrs Ava]

Okay, general consensus seems to be yes then!  My ground is pretty dry and friable now, it is incredibly free draining thanks to the 68 tonnes per square inch of gravel! (me, exagerate, never!  ;D)  I shall take my first batch up tomorrow. 

[Mothy]

Mmmmmm, I've been dying to ask the same question myself......looks like I'll be taking mine up this weekend as well!!  Yipeeeeeeee!  ;D

[kenkew]

EJ; I just moved my mini frames into place alongside the greenhouse. To put them there I had to shovel gravel off the path.
(Me knows all about gravel now.)
No-way have you got 68 tons per sq" in your soil, nooo-way.
(have you?)

[terrace max]

I cut the grass for an old bloke down our terrace. His lawn is nice and mossy and when it's due the first cut of the year - like now - it reminds me to plant my earlies. Why? because I line the spud trenches with the contents of the mower box.

It keeps the spuds nice and warm in the cold soil. And apparently grass cuttings used like this reduce potato scab.

Neat eh?

[Mrs Ava]

Ken, would you say me being a chickaleeta means I am prone to exagerate....just a little....teeny weeny.......  ;)

[NattyEm]

Planted our first earlies yesterday ;D  I forget which variety they are, if Lou sees this I'm sure she'll remember.

Just have to dig the trenches for the rest now!

[Svea]

i saw, nattyem - and your planting plan, too :)
(though, shouldn't brassicas follow beans, for the nitrogen stuff etc? dunno though :))

svea

[simon404]

Just checking what I did last year: earlies (arran pilot) planted out 3.4.04. Maincrop (desiree) 17.4.04.

[wardy]

EJ I wouldn't worry about your spud trenches looking lumpy.  An expert lotty bloke near me just buried his spuds in his new plot by chucking soil over them.  He just wanted to clear a bit of his plot without having to dig it.  They were a bit slug eaten but he still got loads of spuds.  He said if he did it again he'd have a go with Desiree as slugs don't like them so much.  Anyway prompted me to get some.  Not in yet though

[tim]

And, anyway, you can still plant until June or July!!

[diver]

the old guys on my lottie site say plant spuds on 17th march, and everyone does...plant on St. Patricks Day and get you first earlies on 12th July ( St. Billy's Day....or William of Orange)...but the farmers have got them in up here...north west that is

[newchangeling]

Oh no!  I'm not ready!  Still so much preparation to do!!   :o

I guess it dosen't matter if they don't go in just yet, but I'm so disheartened.   ??? In my mind I have great, big, exciting plans.  My digging just can't keep up.  And buying seeds is just far too easy - so many things to grow, so little usable space to grow them in!!

Deep breaths.  Stay calm.  I can only do what I can do, I suppose.  After all, I've only got the one spine.  ::)

Clare.

[tim]

I've only just brought our 2nd earlies in to start chitting. No problem!!

[Roy Bham UK]

Oh no!  I'm not ready!  Still so much preparation to do!!   :o
Clare.

I'm glad to hear you say that as I'm in the same boat, but I'm running round like a headless chicken :o ;D