Thoughts please, early potatoes before tomatoes in polytunnel

[Ginamccon]

I’ve got some ‘Orla’ potatoes chitting away nicely and thought would it be detrimental to put them in before tomatoes? I know there the same family, and heavy feeders but with lots of manure/compost it’s got to be better than putting them else where in the tunnel where I’ll break the 3 year crop rotation I’m trying to stick to. Other options are pots, or later crop outside. Thoughts please, thanks

[charles]

 I have never tried this but it may work. Timing will be tight as the tomatoes need to be planted by mid May. I would give it a go and be prepared to put a double fleece layer on potato foliage in spring, if frosts are forecast. Please keep us posted. What part of the country are you?

[Ginamccon]

Thanks for the quick reply. I’m in mid Lincolnshire. I had chosen Lady Christl for the job as they’re and even quicker first early but they haven’t arrived yet. I think I’ll do a few ‘orla’ in the polytunnel beds and a few in poly pots and compare them and the tomatoes that follow, then depending how that goes do it with Lady Christl next year.

[Vegman]

I have tried this in large drainage pipes under cover of a polytunnel, however I have previously changed the soil/compost mix every year. Begining to think this was a lot of effort this year I have over wintered a crop of parsley and chard,which I have now moved on. No problems so far with previous crops although 2012 was not great for tomatoes, I would suggest trying Swift potatoes as I have found them quicker to harvest than Lady Christl without too much foliage. Good luck with ‘orla’ will be interested to learn your results.

[Author]

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