The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: Inthemanureagain on February 02, 2013, 08:58:29 am

Title: Too early to plant chitted potatoes?
Post by: Inthemanureagain on February 02, 2013, 08:58:29 am

Good morning all.  I've been chitting some leftover potatoes from Christmas.  Do you think it's too early to plant them on my allottment? I'ts the 2nd Feb today and frosty!  Thanks. (I'm a bit new to this game!) :wave: Also, can anyone tell me what else could be planted this month?  Thanks again. :farmer:

Title: Re: Too early to plant chitted potatoes?
Post by: deepinthewoods on February 02, 2013, 09:08:58 am

yes its way too early! any frost will set them right back.

you can think about garlic, sowing onion seeds and broad beans, and maybe some rocket.

Title: Re: Too early to plant chitted potatoes?
Post by: Marches Farmer on February 02, 2013, 09:13:53 am

Try the ploughman's way to tell if the ground is warm enough - drop your trousers and sit on the ground.  If you don't yelp and spring back up again, it is!

Title: Re: Too early to plant chitted potatoes?
Post by: MAK on February 02, 2013, 09:16:39 am

If you are new to veg growing then have a look in the charity shops for a month by month veg planner book. You should prune any fruit trees you have and think about or plan starting tomatoe seed ( assuming you are not too far north).
If you knock off any shoots from the spuds you have then they will chit again towards the end of the month.
Worth doing some digging though if you have some manure or compost to dig in.

Title: Re: Too early to plant chitted potatoes?
Post by: gerpsych on February 02, 2013, 10:40:58 am

It's the frosty that's the clue. The frost will get them if you plant them now. You should be getting garlic in, it is already a bit late. Thanks for your question because it has reminded me that I had better get the cloves separated and planted.

Title: Re: Too early to plant chitted potatoes?
Post by: MAK on February 02, 2013, 12:35:23 pm

Good luck with the garlic. Planted mine in December and a few shoots are already showing. Snow here today so I may just chuck another log on the fire and watch the rugby  ;D

Title: Re: Too early to plant chitted potatoes?
Post by: Fowgill Farm on February 02, 2013, 02:53:59 pm

always plant my spuds on Good friday, don't know why must have read it somewhere :thinking:
mandy :pig:

Title: Re: Too early to plant chitted potatoes?
Post by: hexhammeasure on February 02, 2013, 04:11:05 pm

you can plant some in tubs now if you have a greenhouse or polytunnel for an early crop

Title: Re: Too early to plant chitted potatoes?
Post by: Inthemanureagain on February 05, 2013, 08:17:33 pm

Thanks very much for all the advice!!!!  Best get me garlic in then! :excited:

Title: Re: Too early to plant chitted potatoes?
Post by: Lesley Silvester on February 05, 2013, 09:34:04 pm

Quote from: Fowgill Farm on February 02, 2013, 02:53:59 pm

always plant my spuds on Good friday, don't know why must have read it somewhere :thinking:
mandy :pig:

I think it's a tradition dating back to the days when farm workers did a six day week and weren't allowed to dig on a Sunday.  Good Friday was the first day off they  had so that's when they planted the spuds.

Title: Re: Too early to plant chitted potatoes?
Post by: hexhammeasure on February 06, 2013, 07:13:16 pm

in the (good) old days a lot of farmworkers never planted until after the hirings which was 1st of May