was wondering due to the cold were having is there anyone in the country put spuds in or will be shortly
They can go in, but will not really start growing until the soil starts to warm up.
The danger of early planting is that they may become waterlogged and rot.
However as everyone who has grown spuds knows, they overwinter and grow when not wanted.
Far to early for where i live for them to go in the ground but i have set away 25 tubs in the GH, Rocket, Nadine, Kestral and Rooster.
we've got one bed warming for saturday, we have to plant when we can so the bed will be kept covered to protect them :)
Us too. The ground has been covered with black plastis for the last 3 weeks. Going for it on saturday. Then covered back for another week.
Heavy frost here last night (otley, Wharfedale) - the ground is cold and hard!
I have my 5 varieties chitting in the (heated) greenhouse - will not be planting out for a couple of weeks at least...
Last year my first and second earlies went into beds on 9th March (and into bags on 29th March) but I'm pretty sure it was warmer then than now
Will be putting some first earlies in this weekend...but not in the ground. Last year was so poor that I hardly got anything back. This year I will grow in tall chimney pots, large sacks/bags and even a rubble bag dotted around to see if that helps. Hopefully will give me more control over conditions.
Id get as much luck putting them in the freezer if I put mine out now :(
Got my earlies in a couple of weeks ago ...well whats left of them after they froze, then thawed to mush , whilst chitting in the shed . I will be planting the next lot in a weeks time .Hopefully the weather will be better . I, m in Cornwall so it,s a bit milder here . Debs
thanks guys was trying to see if there was a trend to get them in this year early as last year a lot of people had them in im waiting for the second weekend of this month as ive been told from a good source will be a little warmer
lady christelle earlies seconds are Anya lates are cara and maris piper
gonna put mine in next week... longas we don't have snow ;D ;D ;D
Our first earlies always go in on St Patrick's day.
Got 5 different varieities in bags in the GH, 1 bed of IK and 1 bed of Red Duke of York planted last weekend and hoping to put in another bed and plant it up tomorrow. Not sure what variety to put in it, got Sarpo Axona, Red Robin, Jelly, Smile, Arran Victory and Mr. Little's whatnots still chitting.
Weed-Digga
Thought sod it,put 3 rows a Rocket in today.
advice, please. One of my laydees has bought 3kilos ::) of Desiree she wants me to put in tubs/bags for her. What size tub to how many Desirees, please, any ideas? These are already chitting & I'd be thinking of planting some for her in a couple of weeks.
I had some Sarpo Mira left over last year so I put them in 75 litre compost bags, 4 to a bag and got a good crop, with a couple of whopping outsize bakers. I turned the bags inside out and pierced holes all over, lots of crocks in the bottom and never let them dry out.
I put some in in feb last yr and put a cloche over them to protect from frost as we had some late one in early april, seems to work well for me down on the south devon coast but this yr seems much colder so havent bothered yet :)
Tub growing depends on the size of the tub.
If you gauge it on a 2 gallon bucket/pail, it is one for each bucket
I suppose if you measure the earth into the tub in buckets full it would be a fairly good guide.
Thanks PH, that'll be a good rule-of-thumb guide 8)
Still can't decide. I was going to put my earlies in next week but we get one warm day and then it goes cold again. The ground has warmed up slightly, so as long as the weather stays fair, I'll go with next week and cover them up with clotches. After saying that, it sounds like a Siberian winter outside at the moment! I keep checking the greenhouse to see if it's been blown away :o
Brought my seed tats on friday, put them in the shed, hopefully going to get them in the ground towards the end of the month. Weather is quite changeable here in cambridgeshire at the moment, lovely and sunny one minute ,cold and wet the next
We have just had a bit of sleet/snow this afternoon. I hope to get my earlies in next weekend.
I put a line of rocket in today, the winds picked up so I called it a day and now its chucking it down. :'( ;D ;D ;D
hi there
i put 2 rows of firsts into day, cant remember what they are call, my dad gave them to me lol :D
I planted 3 rows of Lady Christl today. Felt on a bit of a roll after that so in went 3 rows of Jet Set onions and 2 rows of parsnips. Then I weeded the overwintering onions and gave them a feed and then did the same to the broad beans. Then I realised how much I needed to sit down and have a cup of tea!
I could never keep my girls at the allotment, i absolutely love having them around all day, coming uop to the back door and wondering in the kitchen, having cuddles and generally keeping an eye on them
I would get so worried if i was away from them and not able to check on them when the was a unusual noise or squark.
To leave them for a number of days as someone has said on this would be unthinkable
It really isnt the same having them on the allotment then it is havng them at home..
See what your landlady sas, its a world of difference having them at home,they become such close and loving pets!
Quote from: Philbasford on March 08, 2009, 22:53:06
I could never keep my girls at the allotment, i absolutely love having them around all day, coming uop to the back door and wondering in the kitchen, having cuddles and generally keeping an eye on them
I would get so worried if i was away from them and not able to check on them when the was a unusual noise or squark.
To leave them for a number of days as someone has said on this would be unthinkable
It really isnt the same having them on the allotment then it is havng them at home..
See what your landlady sas, its a world of difference having them at home,they become such close and loving pets!
WOW ! your spuds come to your door. Jeez. Its all I could do to get them in the ground. LOL.
oops that was posted on the wrong page!!, dont know how it happened lol :o
It's been so cold in the garage my earlies have only just started chitting. Have moved some to the GH (under fleece) to see if that improves matters.
Planned to plant next w.e. (a week later than last year) but may have to leave it a bit longer.
Yes I was beginning to to think that all this vegetable growing is getting way too profound for me too Flunky after reading Philbasfords post :'(
Duke :P
Planted a row of nicely chitted "rocket" this a.m. also some broad bean seeds on some pre cloched ground . I used glass tent cloches which had blown down in the wind! but the soil seemed warm
cant wait to get me spuds in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K9rVRuehGU
the plot is ready and waiting the soil is loose and fertile but still to wet . frost im not worried about but im waiting for an ave of over 5°C at night
so this week im goona work the soil some more put in more horse poo ((well rotted) from last year)and add some ferti then turn it all over again to improve drainage then put me spuds in
;D
Hoping to get mine in late next week. Been held up a week by being ill. Sods law now the weather is better. ???
I stuck my 2nd line of rocket in after work today. ;D ;D ;D
had my earlies in since 28th feb, under fleece to keep the ground warm. Been hardly any frost in norwich since the big snow!
She got some little pink skinned potatoes from the supermarket for 30p, reduced. They were sprouting so I said they were not fit to eat, So all 18 have been planted instead. They are Scottish so I assume they are used to being cold.
Not lost much if they fail.
Put a short row of Lady C in on March 1st (about a week later than usual!). The rest, plus a short row of Sharpe's Express, went in this afternoon, thanks to some help from a class of six-year-olds from the local school. (Who now can't wait till June, when they want to come back and help me dig them up!)
just planted some of our desiree that were sprouting, in planters, worth a go ;D
I'm putting in my first earlies tomorrow (Arran pilot). They have sprouted so well it seems cruel to keep in the outside loo for much longer. I'll cover over the plot with fleece to try to keep them nice and warm as even though Bristol is meant to be mild, the plot is quite clayey. Finger crossed.
I'm hoping to put in my second earlies next weekend too (Maris Peer).
Quote from: lightyears on March 11, 2009, 16:07:25
had my earlies in since 28th feb, under fleece to keep the ground warm. Been hardly any frost in norwich since the big snow!
what, down in that frost pocket where you garden? there has been frost, I seen it EARLY in the morning as I travel past your site on my way to college! ;)
dont worry lol, there not even though yet and they have fleece if they decide to do so.
Not even thought about it! In Brum we can get a significant frost in early May so it is not worth putting them in until April. There is a not a lot gained by being too earlier. Spuds have a natural cycle of growing and top growth death. So whenever you plant them they will grow a fixed number of days (more or less) then die back.
I don't mind the odd frost on my spuds. It cuts the top growth back a bit, they it doesn't harm the root development, and they very soon grow back. In my view it does very little real harm.
I put two lines of Lady Chrystl earlier today. ;D ;D ;D
Hi George whereabouts in Brum are you. We are in Erdington.I'm not putting my spuds in too early this year. They only get caught by the frost. I have put a few in for the spud challenge but thats all.
My first row of Rocket went in 17th Feb, 22 tubers under mesh, 5 more rows 3rd March. All being well my 2nd earlies (kestrel) will be in next week, followed by the main crop.
it was such a beautiful weekend i decided to give it a go so first spuds are in ;)
Me too Debster - 2 rows of Rocket :)
3 rows of swift went in today it was such a nice day couldn't resist it 8)
Dave watch that sun 8) on your head mate. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Sorry I forgot a lovely sunny 8) day I sowed some spring onion, cabbage and cauli AYR direct. ;D ;D ;D
Whats that got to do with spuds sorry. ??? :-\ ;D ;D ;D
Just got the lines up ready to plant the spuds tomorrow.
Soil still chilly and spuds not chitting well, so just cloched the area they're going in this w.e. and hope to get them in next w.e.