The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: Louise Gaunt on April 30, 2015, 11:26:06 am

Title: Frosted potatoes
Post by: Louise Gaunt on April 30, 2015, 11:26:06 am

i planted my early potatoes several weeks ago under plastic cloches, and then ( foolishly) I removed the cloches about 2 weeks ago. We had a frost here 3 nights ago and some of the leaves have definitely been damaged. I have put the cloches back on until the nights get warmer. Is the frost likely to cause damage to the growing crop?

Title: Re: Frosted potatoes
Post by: devonlady on May 01, 2015, 06:58:04 am

It may delay the crop a bit :(

Title: Re: Frosted potatoes
Post by: Fleecewife on May 01, 2015, 09:07:46 am

At this stage the tubers will put up more shoots soon enough.

Earth up around the plants so the leaves there are, are covered with soil - frosts aren't over yet, here anyway.  I've planted mine but they're not through yet

Title: Re: Frosted potatoes
Post by: henchard on May 01, 2015, 12:51:51 pm

It will just 'put them back a bit'. Back in the 70s when I grew commercially we had a very late hard frost in May; they recovered OK.

Title: Re: Frosted potatoes
Post by: Louise Gaunt on May 01, 2015, 01:37:06 pm

Thanks all. I shall just sit tight and see what happens. Everything is very slow to get going due to it being so cold especially at night. We had thick ice on top of the trailer cover a few days ago, and we are in South Devon!