When will I know when my potatoes are ready?

[bibbo]

I got some nice organic potatoes at the store last fall.

Cut them up, buried them

They have grown big, I buried them. So now I have this big ol mound. The plant keep popping up.

When is it time to start digging?

how much should I water.

How do I store?

Can you tell it is my first season as a potatoe farmer

[jacob marley]

Have a bit of a scratch round the roots and see what is there you do not have to dig the whole plant up just because there are spud's just pick the bigger one's and leave the smaler to grow on good luckjacob

[HeyWayne]

As Jacob said, have yourself a furtle (been ages since I've used that word!) around the roots, get yorands in there!

As for watering, just make sure they're not waterlogged and you should be fine. Bit like sponges as far as I remember, the more you water (within reason) the bigger the spuds - providing you've fed the ground well too.

Storing - well, this depends on what type they are. If they're 1st or 2nd earlies, it's best to leave thm in the ground until you need them. Main crop spuds can be stored for longer, but you dig them up and let them dry in the sun, then keep them somewhere cool and covered. Make sure you discard any diseased or semi-eaten ones before storing though. Using hessian sacks is the most common practise I believe, or paper ones, but I kept mine in a tub trug under the stairs and they seemed ok.

Last year was my first year growing anything, and spuds were my first crop. They'll always hold a special place in my heart and on my plot.

Good luck.

[Flummery]

I'd go by the length of time and the type of spud. Earlies want about 12 weeks to maturity, Second earlies about 14/15. You need to leave maincrops about 18 - 20 weeks.

HeyWayne - you updated your blog on 13th APRIL kiddo!

[Two_Sheds]

Bibbo - welcome. Where are ya? You sound like you're from across the pond..

[HeyWayne]

HeyWayne - you updated your blog on 13th APRIL kiddo!

Nice to see someone's watching. It was a test, no honest, it was.

[ClayGarden]

Oooh, i still dont like digging my hands in the dirt, still dont like the creepy crawlies

[Two_Sheds]

Oooh, i still dont like digging my hands in the dirt, still dont like the creepy crawlies

You'd better take up knitting instead then

[Flummery]

I like knitting AND getting my hands in the dirt! (so do you, TS, admit it!) You can do both.

[HeyWayne]

I like knitting AND getting my hands in the dirt! (so do you, TS, admit it!) You can do both.

I don't know much about knitting, but knitting one, pearling one must be a bit if a struggle with a fork in your hand?

[jacob marley]

Bibbo - welcome. Where are ya? You sound like you're from across the pond..

That is why i did not use furtle thoght it might stump e'm jacob

[Flummery]

I don't know much about knitting, but knitting one, pearling one must be a bit if a struggle with a fork in your hand?

Nah, you just pop it behind your ear for later.

[bibbo]

I just found this forum...i am in the Bay Area, California...Yes across the pond.

Cant remember when I planted the potatoes. Someone said something about them flowering and then dying back. I would know then. Any truth here?

As the plant grows I put more dirt on it. So it is a big mound.

Also any problem with taking potatoes from the store(organic) and using those as starters. Some one mentioned something about toxicity? Any truth?

[Jardiniere]

using seed potatoes is best but you can grow from potatoes bought for eating ....if they start to sprout then they should grow....
they are ready when the flowers are finished but rather than dig the plant up in its entirety .....as folks have said there is nothing like a footle/furtle around in the earth to search for small potatoes with your fingers ..and take a few at a time...great fun

[Two_Sheds]

Cant remember when I planted the potatoes. Someone said something about them flowering and then dying back.

As the plant grows I put more dirt on it. So it is a big mound.

Some one mentioned something about toxicity? Any truth?

Some potatoes flower, some don't. If they start dying back, then definitely have a look underneath - they should be ready. They go toxic (green) if the light reaches the tubers, so keep mounding them up with earth, or mulch with grass clippings to exclude the light.