Growing potatoes.

[keenonhist]

Can someone please tell me when to plant potates. As we buy "Maris Piper" pots` I would like to plant those. I did try them last year but I planted them in Sept`/Oct` A bit late I think because I got very few.
Many thanks for any replies.
P.S. I`m growing them in large deep pots.
keenonhist

[Old_Geezer]

I believe it depends on the potato you intend growing. Early or late etc.. IIRC my mate was talking about getting in his earlies about now, or soon at any rate. And not bothering with main crop this year as he had more than enough earlies last year anyway.

[heathfield]

Mid to late April, depending on how far north you are.

[Old_Geezer]

Start chitting now ? http://www.telegraph....forcing-potatoes.html

[Old_Geezer]

Sorry, looked at the wrong date on the page. Go back a month and a half and start chitting then, then. ;-)

[RAV1D]

If your potatoes have started growing there shoots on them they can go into the soil, If not leave them in a warm place or dark cupboard until they do. Dig over your soil so its all loose,not too solid as new potatoes will struggle to grow from the seed potato in very compact soil. Dont plant too deep down as they like the heat from the warm soil when the suns out and they like plenty of rain to soak down and get to them. When I plant my seed potatoes i dig out gullys or channels then place rows of them not too close apart as they need space around them for new ones to grow off them. put a few chicken pellets in with them if handy, just adds some extra goodness to the soil around them. Now cover them all over and give the ground a good soaking to let all the soil get damp. Dont let the soil ever dry out too much for too long. After a few weeks even a month depending on weather, heat etc. They will start to sprout through the surface and start growing leafs. They get taller and taller and later on start to flower in the summer months. Then after a few weeks of them flowering the leafs will start giving up,looking yellower and starting to droop. This is the time you can start to dig them up. There are all types, Earlys, Main crop and lates. plant them all around March/April but the earlys will finish first, the Main later through the summer and lates at end of summer or into winter.

[keenonhist]

Many thanks for all the replies.
The potatoes we have are sprouting (These are Maris Piper) I don`t know if they are early or what ever.
Again many thanks.
keenonhist.

[DaisyNonna]

No idea. Am trying potato growing for the first time this year. Was told to chit potatoes in a frost free, light but not sunny environment.

[JonnyBoy12]

I have been told by my friend who owns a nursery that they should go in around mid-April and grow for about 22 weeks. This takes us up til late August or early September.

Watch out for slugs as they love eating spuds before they are ready.

[brenda]

If you are in the north of the country , beginning of April will be fine , providing you have give the potatoes a chance to sprout first i.e chitting.
Good luck-- Maris piper is a good spud to grow.

[Exmothian]

I'd refer you to the RHS site or allotment site for information. Rav1d is nearly correct , there are three groups, first earlies, second earlies then maincrop.
Current opinion is divided about chatting or not, but if you do chit your seed potatoes you can see how many stems will grow. Again general feeling is to leave 3or 4 sprouted growths and rub out the remainder.
It is quite possible to get a good crop growing under woven fabric with slits cut in it , planting about 6" deep through the slits , earthing up is then not required.
Last few years the maincrops here (in Devon) have suffered with blight , so I now just grow first earlies , variety Rocket and second earlies , variety Charlotte
both excellent flavoured waxy/ salad potatoes
Sarto Mira is reputedly a blight resistant maincrop .. Big red skinned potatoes with reasonable flavour.
Sending off for seed catalogues is an idea as many contain useful info on spuds. Google Tuckers in or Thompson and Morgan , good but pricey or better still find your local allotments and go down and,ask some questions. allotmenteers are always ready to give advice!
It is possible, but a bit trickier to grow spuds to dig fresh for Xmas lunch, but I think the jury's out on the value of that, still , it would cut down on air miles and provide a conscience free part to the festivities !!

[Exmothian]

Forgot to say that Maris Piper is the chosen spud for the chippies round these parts, so it has a good track record
The allotment site is allotment.org.uk
As ever just google it and away you go.
PS for a couple of quid you could but a veg growing book , again the best are RHS based publications IMO.

[starone]

What is the earthing up for Exmothian? I have often wondered. I can see you are an expert and I would really like to know.

[Exmothian]

Couple of typos ... The maincrop should read SARPO Mira and it's CHITTING not chatting apologies!

[JonnyBoy12]

I hope that the following site would be of help to you all:

www.realseeds.co.uk

[derrynoose]

The popular saying (and practice) here in Northern Ireland is "Plant on 17th March. Dig on 12th July" ! Applies to Early Crop potatoes.

[Exmothian]

Ah earthing up ! As the sprouted stems grow , they produce spuds up the growing stem, therefore the earthing up allegedly increases the yield ... which to some degree appears to be at odds with the lazy method I use of covering with Mypex ( black woven ground cover) however , not having to earth up saves my poor back and gives me time to do other stuff!!