Weather permitting, I always try and plant my early potatoes around the third week of March which allows harvesting of a very early variety from the first week of June. Over the past few seasons I've settled on 'Rocket' as my early spud of choice. Some people say that they aren't that flavoursome but I like them and they have the benefits of growing quickly, producing a reliable crop and boiling without falling apart.
The potatoes have been chitting away since I bought them in January and have loads of lovely chits on them. I'm not one for rubbing off all but one strong chit but if there are one or two on the side or the opposite end of the main growth then I do remove them but, to be honest, I haven't found much difference whether I do or don't. (Pic - first trench dug and spuds laid out a foot apart).
I worked out that I have to dig nearly 100 feet of trench and back-fill to plant my three rows of earlies. Personally I find it quite hard going so I take my time and a large bottle of something to drink too! (Pic - first row complete behind me, second row in the process of being back-filled).
When I dig the trench I lay out the early spuds around a foot apart (for earlies) and then add some general fertilizer both to the trench and the back-fill soil so there is fertilizer from top to bottom. I then mound up over the trench which should ensure that the plants take some weeks to appear, protecting them from frost. I'll continue to mound up for as long as I can.
Finally, all three rows of early Rocket potatoes are planted, phew! I think the total number altogether was an odd 83 - two rows of 28 and one of 27. The only downside is that I have to repeat the process all over again next month for the main crop! Hopefully my back will feel better by then.
Bye for now.
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