Planting spuds now

Ive got some spuds in the cupboard that have started to grow shoots off them. Is it too late to pot these up and grow them in the green house?I know you cant see if they are virus free or anything but they will be in their own pot of compost, not in my main veg bed.

 

It is getting a bit late, but if you have the space give it a go, you've got nothing to lose. You'll get a few salad spuds but I doubt there'll be time to get a big crop.

 

It would help if they are an early variety, rather than a maincrop. The earlies are not "early", as such, they just take fewer weeks to mature.

 

My last greenhouse ones were about 2 feet high before the outdoor ones had broken the surface so the extra heat brings them out a bit quicker and with them being in the greenhouse will probably last a bit longer too than the out door ones. Ive no idea what type they are, just some from asda. Ive only got some pots that are 12" tall and 8" across, would these be ok for just one per pot? If i get a dozen small spuds out of each it would be worth it.

 

Problem with a 12" pot is earthing it up ... a pot that is a lot bigger than that, and has 3 (or more tubers if a really big container) and tall enough to allow earthing up, would be better I think.

Some sort of bag perhaps? (the sort of woven material that builder's bags are made of)

 

This might sound a daft question (I have never grown taters before) if you grow taters and they are earlys and you leave them in the ground till you want to eat them does that make them lates? and what happens to said taters if you do leave them ? as there is only me I and I planted quite a few it was my intention to just to lift them as and when I needed them.

 

Ive got some hession sacks at work that have had coco beans in them, i could use them i suppose.I really wanted to just empty the one tub at a time and the use whats grown instead of having a big load at once and not eating them all. I read somewhere that if you put all the spuds in a cardboard box in the garage or shed they will keep until next year for using, is this right?

 

No it doesn't make them lates, they're still early varieties. If you leave them I think they'll just get a bit bigger, you shouldn't have any major problems with lifting them as you need them I don't think.

Kev: I think you should give it a go. I've just lifted my first Charlottes yesterday and they have only taken about 9 weeks, 3 weeks earlier than I had planned for, and they are a nice size for salads, about golf ball sized. I'd reccommend getting a bin to plant them in rather than a pot... if you have the room get a cheap dustbin (about £9 from DIY centres) and then you can plant 3 or 4 tubers to get a good crop.
And you don't have to harvest them all at once, you can just "grabble" down the sides of the bin and hand pick a meal's worth. They will store alright as well, to an extent. Hang them in a net or mesh bag in the shed and they'll be fine for eating for a few months. Any longer than that, I'm not sure about... I don't plan on mine lasting that long!

 

I just planted my spuds on 31st may. They are coming up already! They maybe grow a bit quicker later in the season. Give it a go:yho:

 

I might just put them in my blue recycle box, ive got a few of them and my others are growing in similar size tubs.

 

I planted mine 3 weeks ago, and are nearly are already seriously at 4" :D:D, earthing up time isn't it ? :D:D

I'd have posted a photo if it weren't for the rain

 

"lift them as and when I needed them."

Yup, that's correct for New Potatoes. They will taste better left in the ground, than lifted, and will continue to fatten up until the tops have died down.

Once the tops have died down you can lift them, and store, if you like (e.g. if you need the ground for something else), but their skins are not as thick as Main potatoes, so they won't keep very long.

(They won't stay in the ground forever, buit I'm presuming that the will taste so good that you eat them all up pretty quickly?!)