Christmas potatoes

Frances O\’Keeffe asked 15 years ago

Growing potatoes in a bin for Christmas, I forgot to protect against frost. The tops withered away, but there seems to be small potatoes still growing underneath.Can I let them grow on and can I eat them?

1 Answers

Gerry Daly Staff answered 6 years ago
It is possible to grow potatoes for Christmas, but only in a greenhouse, away from frost as you have found out. Keep some tubers from spring right through summer in the fridge, removing excess shoots but leaving some small buds, and plant in a greenhouse or pots in August or early September. Use early varieties.

The tops being killed means they are dead to about 2 or 3 centimetres below soil level and will sprout from below when the weather improves, and get frosted again. The potatoes will likely not grow much until summer and will turn out knobbly with secondary growth.

So your best bet is to use whatever small tubers you have now. 

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