Another potato question

[mrs_b]

I bought a kit from Wilko which I planted on easter monday, 13th April i think. Only took a couple of weeks to fully earth up and now the foliage is about 1 foot high maybe more. The variety is Maris Piper and as this is my first attempt at growing anything of my own I am unsure how long they are supposed to take to grow and when they will be ready to harvest. I've heard the terms 1st earlys and 2nd earlys but not sure what type these are. Any advice gratefully appreciated - thanks

[FionaH]

I googled them and they are main crop apparently I think you wait for the foilage to die back before you harvest them, but best wait for someone smart to come along

[Flummery]

I'd give a main crop spud about 18 weeks from planting. Makes sure you get a decent crop.

[teakdesk]

The British Potato Council calls Maris Piper second earlies but I think of them more as an early maincrop..

British Potato Council - Maris Piper

Second earlies take around 12 to 16 weeks to mature; early maincrop take around 16 to 20 weeks to mature.

If you can wait 18 weeks, as Flummery suggests, then you should have a good crop!! That's 17th August if planted on 13th April.

[Sonata]

Ooh, I've been wondering this too. How do you decide between 16 and 20 weeks? Would they go off? I am also growing maris pipers and if I'm good and wait 20 weeks, I get to harvest on my birthday!

[SMS6]

It's unlikely they'd go off - the potatoes would just get bigger so depends whether you want nice neat small new potatoes or larger ones

[mrs_b]

Oooh thanks for that - i have been looking but didn't know what I was looking for - thank you all

[gojiberry]

Unless you are looking for self sufficency then I don't see any point in growing main crop potatoes as by Aug/Sept you will be able to get a bag of pots for £3. However there is nothing to compare with a fresh dug early potato cooked within minutes of coming out of the ground and smothered in butter. I would be inclined to go with SMS6 and go for some nice neat small new potatoes.

Ian

[ckfe]

i planted mine out about 8 weeks ago, not got a clue if they're first, second or maincrops as its the first time i've ever grown spuds and i was so excited i didn't bother looking at the label
the foliage is humungous, its at least 2 and half foot out of the top of the soil and i can't earth up anymore, should this be happening after 8 weeks, how much higher can they get?? and when will they get flowers and do they all get flowers?

[Sonata]

Can main crop spuds be eaten as new potatoes? I only got these as I didn't really know what I was doing.

My maris pipers have been in 13 weeks now..time to have a rummage?

[julesapple]

Mine are the Same!

i planted mine out about 8 weeks ago, not got a clue if they're first, second or maincrops as its the first time i've ever grown spuds and i was so excited i didn't bother looking at the label
the foliage is humungous, its at least 2 and half foot out of the top of the soil and i can't earth up anymore, should this be happening after 8 weeks, how much higher can they get?? and when will they get flowers and do they all get flowers?

My well-chitted spuds were planted in pop-up thingies on May Day weekend. I remember the date because my AP's were here and I took them to see Only Men Aloud.

The foiliage is now about 3ft above the fully earthed tubs. I've planted three lots of main crop, and three of second earlies (thought I was prob too late for planting first earlies) Can't wait to have a footle about in the tubs , but will hang on as Aunty Flum suggests.

Jules