The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: wannabesmallholder on April 25, 2017, 02:01:43 pm
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In spite of what I thought were my best efforts at earthing up and covering with fleece, my potatoes were got by the frost last night >:(
That'll teach me for being too keen!
Is there any chance they'll perk up or should I pull up and plant some more while it's still potato planting season?
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Hi wannabesmallholder
Sounds like OH last year, despite his best efforts the tips got frosted.
It set them back a wee bit but once the warmer! weather comes they will catch up. Just make sure you keep earthing up/covering when cold nights forecast
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My earlies seem to get caught every year... but soon put on new growth and produce a good crop. I'm always torn between getting them in early and covering up in the frost or getting them in later and having reduced yields because of blight...
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Fleece is pretty useless against frost I find. When you earth up, make sure you draw the soil right over all the foliage - it looks as if you're killing the spuds, but you're not.
We're forecast -7 tonight, and have had snow since yesterday, so I'm pleased we're a bit behind with preparing the tattie patch.
Keep a record of your weather over several years, and eventually you'll arrive at an average last and first frosts date for your garden. Then plant your tubers about 2 weeks before that date.
They'll keep on growing in spite of the damage. You could always try digging up a couple to check what's going on below, to set your mind at rest :garden:
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I buy heavy duty fleece which works well but you do need to make sure it doesn't touch the plants. We are only getting temps just below zero however.