Today I 'took the plunge' and planted two rows of my first early seed potatoes.
I could have waited, but time pressures have forced the decision to be made. The weather has been mild here, mostly apart from one over night frost and I am prepared to earth if necessary to protect them when they emerge. I have planted them the traditional way by digging a trench. In the past I have tried the method where you just dig a hole for each seed potato and drop it in, but it does not work so well for potatoes in my sandy soil.
I have finished planting two rows and will be also planting a few in containers.
In the UK the further South you are the earlier you are able to plant your seed potatoes, but when you plant them depends on the weather conditions in your area. I needed to make an early start this year, so fingers crossed that the weather will not suddenly turn wintry later on.
In one potato trench I am experimenting with a method from an old organic gardening book, which involves the use of leaves in the trench. I thought this might be useful to help retain moisture, but it is just an experiment.
Another tip from the old book on growing vegetables organically is to put comfrey leaves in the bottom of the trench when planting the seed potatoes. I might try this with the main crop ones when I plant them later in the season, as by then I might have some comfrey leaves to cut, no sign of them at the moment.
I could have waited, but time pressures have forced the decision to be made. The weather has been mild here, mostly apart from one over night frost and I am prepared to earth if necessary to protect them when they emerge. I have planted them the traditional way by digging a trench. In the past I have tried the method where you just dig a hole for each seed potato and drop it in, but it does not work so well for potatoes in my sandy soil.
I have finished planting two rows and will be also planting a few in containers.
In the UK the further South you are the earlier you are able to plant your seed potatoes, but when you plant them depends on the weather conditions in your area. I needed to make an early start this year, so fingers crossed that the weather will not suddenly turn wintry later on.
In one potato trench I am experimenting with a method from an old organic gardening book, which involves the use of leaves in the trench. I thought this might be useful to help retain moisture, but it is just an experiment.
Another tip from the old book on growing vegetables organically is to put comfrey leaves in the bottom of the trench when planting the seed potatoes. I might try this with the main crop ones when I plant them later in the season, as by then I might have some comfrey leaves to cut, no sign of them at the moment.
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