Surely it’s too early to be thinking about Christmas, I hear you say. At least I think I do, amongst the many other voices in my head. I am indeed thinking about Christmas. More specifically I am thinking about potatoes at Christmas. Even more specifically, delicious hom 

e-grown roast potatoes at Christmas being proudly placed on the table to gasps of awe and admiration and maybe a harmonious chorus of Gloria! some people even ask 'Can I grow potatoes in winter?' or 'Can i grow my Christmas Roast potatoes?' - the answer is yes! But if you don't like digging frozen ground then follow my lead. Normally, British potatoes are home-grown from early spring throughout the summer. Instead I am planning to sow some spuds now in Potato Planters, nurture them through the autumn and hopefully harvest them in time to share oven space with whatever beast we decide to roast for Christmas lunch this year.

Which variety?

At this time of year, cold-stored potato tubers should available from specialist seed merchants. Maris Peer or Nicola are good winter varieties that don’t need chitting. Having said that the ones that I have just picked up from my local Garden Centre are vigorously chitting. Looks like they are chomping at the bit. So we will see if this makes a difference. If you are in search of an answer to wheher potatoes can grow potatoes... I have had varying success in the past just using supermarket spuds. Grandpa Haxnicks tells me that this is because harvested potatoes go into a dormant state for some months before they are ready to produce new shoots. So, either I found particularly stress resistant tubers in the supermarket. Or they had been on the shelf for a long time and were very ready to get out and breed! So how late can I plant potatoes in the UK? For second cropping potatoes - late August is a good time to plant. They should be ready 11 weeks after planting so work back and you should actually be OK until some time in September. 

Plant your eager-to-breed tubers in the Potato Planters. Plant on about 6 inches of multi- purpose compost and cover with the same amount again. Each time the foliage pushes through the soil, cover it again until the bag is full. Keep them watered and fed with a liquid fertiliser. The Bag can be kept in a greenhouse, but should also be OK outside provided they are given frost protection. If you want to know can potatoes survive frost and snow then the answer is yes if properly dressed. A cosy Fleece Jacket should do the trick, no need to bother with a scarf or gloves. In the autumn, when the foliage yellows and dies back you can cut it off. If you want to know can potatoes survive frost and snow then the answer is yes if properly dressed. Then leave the potatoes in fairly dry soil until Christmas. Once harvested, be reassured that they will then enter their dormant state and wil be perfect for peeling and roasting.