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Winter potatoes caught by frost

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Ah - I'm glad you got some better advice @polb :)

    It does seem strange that there isn't, or wasn't, better advice with them @fidgetbones. Is it a case of 'we've got stuff to get rid of' ?  :/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlashingPlashing Posts: 328
    I have had them get frosted in April and May before, now if I hear that there is going to be a frost I have pulled some soil over any that has started to grow that works just as well because it doesn't stop them growing,on the farms they set the irrigation on to wash the frost of before the sun rises because its the sun that does most of the damage, the same applies to fruit trees and bushes as well.
  • polbpolb Posts: 198
    Thank you everyone, really helpful link too :)Not impressed that I was sold them without instructions to grow them in pots or well protected. A good lesson learned! I did think it was too good to be true!!

    Many thanks :)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If you can get hold of a bale of straw (the small rectangular ones, not the giant round ones) cover your row of potatoes with a thick layer of straw ... mounded up as well as covering the sides ... then cover with your mini poly tunnel and make sure the straw is stuffed in well. That should protect against the sort of frosts we usually get in Nov/Dec ... unless you are very unlucky. 
    I doubt if they’ll need watering. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • polbpolb Posts: 198
    Ok, I'll give that a go. I have some straw so fingers crossed it doesn't get too cold!
    Thank you! :)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’ll cross my fingers too ... the only problem is that as potatoes come from much warmer climes they may not make a lot of growth even if they don’t get frosted. But as you’ve planted them you’ve got nothing to lose ... fingers crossed you get enough for Christmas dinner at least 🎄 🤞 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • polbpolb Posts: 198
    Just an update... I got about 5 very small potatoes!! :D Perhaps about one portion! A lot of effort just for that but I've learned something! Thanks everyone :)
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