I GOT a serious case of potato and greenhouse envy the other day.

The guilty party? Author, historian, CP columnist and keen gardener, Alan Stroud.

He has just invested in a magnificent greenhouse which happily for me left his polytunnel redundant and he most kindly gave it to me.

It also means his other greenhouse is free to use for super early spuds, which are well ahead of mine.

His went in much earlier and they are going crackers in the warmth.

It isn't too late to get some spuds in and if you have no space in the greenhouse to hurry the tub production along they can be sheathed in bubblewrap and put in a sunny position to retain the heat of the day over the still cool nights.

Potatoes take on the flavour of the soil in which they are grown, some varieties more than others, so it is worth enriching your chosen medium with well rotted rich manure or compost from the heap, earthing up as they shoot.

I have chosen two for the old recycling tubs and top of the list is Wilja, which is a really tasty 'tato.

It is also a bit of a rarity among more modern varieties which seem to have been developed for quantity rather than taste quality.

Wilja was only first recognised in 1967 and was at one stage the second most popular second early variety but has for some unknown reason slipped from popularity.

My second is that old favourite, Desiree, which is one of my favourites for chips.

Bred five years earlier than Wilja this red is firm and and creamy and is suitable for every way in which to serve up a spud.