LUCY CHAMBERLAIN’S FRUIT AND VEG
Chitting potatoes, growing seakale, making ‘no-dig’ beds
EVERYONE should experience that pivotal, joyous moment when fork prongs are pushed into the soil to unearth the first new potatoes of the season.
For those of us growing them outside, this is usually in early to mid June. However, you can force Mother Nature’s hand further by growing in tubs under glass. So, how do you go about getting the best early crops?
Choosing ‘earlies’ is key – this is the name given to varieties that take 100 days to mature (whereas main crops can take at least 130). These hit the ground running as soon as they enter warm soil.
Warm soil is crucial – impatiently planting into cold earth won’t reap any rewards; at best, the tubers will sit in stasis until things warm up – at worst, they could rot. Soil temperatures must be at least 7°C/45°F for potatoes to grow, which usually occurs some time in March.
If you want to plant early, do so into pots in a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory (then plant in February, or even risk late January). One tuber per eight-litre bag is ideal; fill the bag with compost and plant the tuber 4-6in (10-15cm) deep. Kept well watered, you could be unearthing tubers by late March – that’s Jersey Royal territory!
For super-early spuds, it’s crucial to ‘chit’ tubers. This involves standing seed potatoes somewhere light and frost-free, which helps them develop sturdy shoots, known as chits. Follow the guide below so that, even though it’s too early to plant, your spuds are starting into growth.