spuds

hi guys can anyone tell me when to plant my spuds, do i plant first earlies , second earlies and maincrop at the same time ? i have chitted them in my shed and they all have shoots about 1-2 cm long.
thank you
dave

 

You can plant anytime now.
Earlies are usually planted first, but it makes no difference.

The plants themselves sort out how long they take to mature.

 

thanks for the reply i will crack on with it tomorrow

 

Traditionally taters go in the ground on Good Friday.

Last year that was 22nd April, this year 6th April and next year it's 29th March (http://www.maa.mhn.de/StarDate/publ_holidays.html)

But it's more to do with the weather in your area, particularly the frosts and how they will affect your emerging potato plant foliage because if it's hit by frost it will blacken and die off.

As Pete says you can get your taters in now (mine will be going in this week), but mound the soil up on top of each row as extra protection and when they emerge from the soil make sure you watch the weather for frosts and be prepared to to go and protect them either by mounding more soil on top on laying down fleece.

If your spuds are hit by frost overnight you can "wash" it off with a hosepipe before the sun hits it in the morning.

Steve...