Plant out potatoes in mild spots

If you’re in a mild spot of the country it’s possible to plant out a few early varieties of potato if they’ve got strong chits of about 2cm (1in) long. Leave it a couple of weeks in more exposed or cold regions. Rub off all but about six chits for planting. Plant each tuber 30cm (12in) apart and 13cm (5cm) deep in soil and cover well. These early plantings will need an eye kept on them in case of frosty spells, and earth up soil around new shoots that come through, or put fleece over them. You can also chit maincrop potatoes before an April planting.