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My poor potatoes

 
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Lloyd



Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 18 9:26 pm    Post subject: My poor potatoes Reply with quote
    

I waited until the Beast from the East had passed before planting into warm (er) soil last week. Now it appears another freeze is coming. I could cover the surface over them in well rotted grass cuttings but whilst keeping the surface a fraction warmer, would it be bad for them in the longer term?.....The alternative would be a tarp over their bed. Answers on a postcard please

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sat Mar 17, 18 8:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I haven't put mine in yet; they are still chitting happily in the spare room, which I am rather glad about. I wouldn't put them in until the beginning of April where we are. We are in the south on England, but the microclimate is at least a fortnight later than on the coast.

As long as the tops aren't above ground they will probably be all right as this cold weather shouldn't last for more than a couple of days, but if you are worried, put on extra protection. Snow will insulate them a bit too if you are expecting it where you are.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Mar 17, 18 10:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If they are through then get a length of polythene and make some hoops out of wire clothes hangers. Then put the wire over the potatoes and the polythene over the wire and secure with more wire over the polythene. Try to keep the polythene so that it doesn't touch the potatoes. This is a cheap makeshift cloche which I have used several times in the past when I was eager to get the first potatoes off the allotment. I have covered them over in the past in pyjamas at 12 at night, when they suddenly said a frost in the morning!

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45377
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sat Mar 17, 18 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

sacrificing ones pyjamas at midnight is a sign of a dedicated grower

the cloche thing works and is less chilly round the nethers.

Lloyd



Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 18 9:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Laughing! Thanks all, they have a tarp underneath two inches of snow and anyway are not showing yet, so fingers crossed, eh?

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Mon Mar 19, 18 7:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

With any luck they will be all right. When it has warmed up again, just carefully scrape away the soil and see if the tubers seem all right. If they have gone mushy, I am afraid they froze and will be a lost cause, but if just soft, they should be all right.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Apr 28, 18 10:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

dpack I have just got round to reading the potato cloche/ref Pyjamas ha. I had my wellies on so ok!
There is a more serious note; the wire coat hangers work well, (and are cheap, as is the polythene), and if you want the potatoes out of the cloche by day, it is a simple matter to leave the wire and pull the polythene up from left to right or right to left between the wires so all in place for the next frost.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45377
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sat Apr 28, 18 9:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i just noticed a deep bag of spuds that were too few and small to bother with in august and then got forgotten after the tops died back has sprouted and is looking rather healthy.

perhaps a fumble about will be worthwhile before long.

i was eyeing the bag with a view to repotting the big rosemary bush and was a bit surprised by the greenery.

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