potato help

[rainbowbrite]

hi,
this is gunna sound daft but i planted potatos ages ago and i want to know how i know when they're done, i'm too scared of checking and ruining them!

[shirlthegirl43]

If you planted them over 12 weeks ago then there should be some crop whatever type of spuds they are. If you have one plant that is looking a bit more yellow than the rest, dig it up carefully. I would be surprised if you don't find enough spuds for a meal. Last year my spuds had only been in for between 6 and 9 weeks when they were decimated with blight. We got enough marble sized spuds for one teatime treat.

If they are in buckets it is even easier, loosen the soil in the bucket and wiggle the whole lot out onto a board or empty compost sack. Carefully remove any spuds which are big enough and replace the rest back in the bucket and give a good water.

[lainey lou]

Have a little feel around (a furtle as it's known on the vine!) and see what you can find you might be surprised! If there's nothing much doing cover back up and leave a little longer!

[ckfe]

i've got spuds growing in a big crate, think they've been in there about 10 weeks.. i had a furtle last week and there was nothing at all in there, should there have been at least a titchy potato or do they not start growing till right near the end? they started flowering a week or so ago

also (and this is a really stupid question) will the spuds be near the bottom of the crate or the top and (even more stupid question) will they be attached to the plant in some way?

[shirlthegirl43]

The spuds can be anywhere under the soil but in my experience, more at the bottom. They form at the end of thick longish white roots. I believe with some varieties the tubers are forming while the flowers are (if that makes sense) and it is at that time that you need to water well to make sure the spuds form without splitting.

http://passmyexams.co.uk/GCSE/biolog...tato_plant.jpg