Potatoes

For a small vegetable patch or garden early potatoes are a ‘must’.

The ground should be prepared in the autumn by digging in compost or manure, and fork in a good fertilizer at 4 oz. per square yard in the spring.

On light soils, plant in February in a sheltered spot; ‘chit’ the seed tatties for three weeks to a month before planting (meaning place them in trays with their ‘eyes’ upwards and leave them in a greenhouse or spare room in full light to produce shoots).

When ready to plant out, leave two tuber growths on each potato., Plant them five inches deep about a foot apart, with fifteen inches between rows.

In nasty weather, scatter straw or even bracken over the plants to protect them from the worst of it.

As growth appears draw the soil up but leave the tips exposed. Plant successive batches of early potatoes until the end of March, they should be planted slightly shallower – about four inches deep and ten inches apart, and earth them up as soon as you spot any growth.

It is now possible to buy ‘early’ earlies for planting in late summer to dig up in time for Christmas.