[onnyview]

Hi all,

would like to give this a go this year and I remember reading an article about it a little while back, but can I find it?

So, can someone please help with with how to go about growing them and which varieties?

Thanks!

 

[NorthEssexsmallholding]

christmas trees?  I looked into this, they take a good while to grow, about 10-15 years I think from a young sapling to a decent sized tree.

[suziequeue]

Do you mean new potatoes? or things in pots?

[Dizzycow]

Assuming you mean potatoes, I've just ordered some second crop potatoes for christmas from Thompson & Morgan. Never done a second crop before, but some of my earlies are looking like they could be ready soon so thought I'd give it a go!

[Fleecewife]

Marshall's recommend 'Charlotte' and to plant in July.  Once the foliage is frosted, cut it down, they say, then bring the pots of pots under cover and leave them in the soil until needed for Christmas.

[suziequeue]

Oh right - so plant the Charlotte pots in pots in July at the outset?

[Fleecewife]

  I think so but it's not something I do so just going by what Marshall's 'summer catalogue' says - and you can buy a bag to plant them in plus some tubers and some fertiliser for the princely sum of 9.99 + P&P - I prefer the soil with my own sheep manure for nothing    If I was going to plant in containers I would use old feed sacks turned inside out as they are free   But I prefer roast tatties at Christmas anyway - scrummy Mayan Gold

[onnyview]

Thanks for the help. I remember something about building up the soil around the potatoes and to keep covering the foliage? Like I said, brain addle.

Anyway, I shall be getting hold of some Charlottes and plant them in July.

[NorthEssexsmallholding]

so if I want so roast tatties for christmas I should plant them in sacks, covering the leaves before the frost?

[Fleecewife]

Well that's what the seed companies are advertising, but if you have a polytunnel or a mild climate and can cover your crop with soil, polythene or fleece when it gets cold, then I don't see why you can't plant them in the ground as normal.  The advantage of sacks is that you can move them under cover if frost threatens (or snow as last year) but potatoes in the ground last fine as long as they are well earthed up or covered with a thick layer of straw.  But if you have suitable containers it might be worth trying both methods for comparison.