Allotments 4 All

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)