Christmas tatties?

I have today just planted some Charlottes ready for Christmas. The plan is to let them grow outside for the rest of the summer/autumn and then bring them into the polytunnel until they are ready.

 

01-Aug, or possibly last week of July.

Charlotte.

 

P.S. You can work back from when you want to harvest them. A Second Early potato, like Charlotte, will take about 11 weeks from planting to harvest (at this time of the year)

 

Any good alternatives to Charlottes?

 

I've seen Maris Peer and Nicola sold as an XMas spud - not tried them though. I've also seen Vivaldi offered for XMas, that I have grown (as a field crop, but in bags) this year and we really liked the flavour.

 

I assume we'll start seeing them for sale in shops etc soon. Haven't seen any yet though.

 

Dunno about that ... I would expect online retailers to be sold out by now ... June would be the time to pre-order for July delivery and planting in July, maybe, but I think better in 1st week of August.

 

Sorry, idiot question, can I plant them in the ground? Haven't heard of planting pots for xmas before, but it sounds like a great idea.

 

I planted mine in bags last year and put them in the greenhouse when the frosts were forcast left them in there just watering as required worked fine

 

Better in bags I think, but having said that if planted NOW they will be pretty much "done" by first frost, and you can leave them in the ground until you are ready to harvest them (although they will be more prone to slug damage ...)

Make sure you can actually get hold of some "prepared" tubers before embarking on the project

 

Right-o, thanks Kristen. I'll have a look online/at local garden centre before I get too excited! Can probably make a bit of space in the greenhouse... or a barrel on the patio...

 

"Bags" will be happy outside until first frost, so you won't need any greenhouse space until then - if that helps

 

Something has just dawned on me. If I got some tubers now I'd have to chit them for a month wouldn't I? Would they still be ready for Jesus' birthday?