Growing Potato's

[johninblackpool]

Hi Grapes

When calculating the number of weeks you keep spuds in the ground do you start from the day you plant them or from the day you stop earthing up ??
I just emptied out a compost bag that i was growing them in and there wasn't even any pea sized spuds.... Nothing.... Zilch..... Zip....... so i must have got my calculations wrong
Don't know what type they were Earlies or Maincrop so i will be leaving the other 2 bags till they start to wither or flowers appear.

[Noodles]

I believe you count from the day you plant them. How long did you leave yours in for?

[johninblackpool]

Hi noodles

probably about 12 or 13 weeks

but if they are maincrop i think they should be in for about 22 weeks

[Noodles]

That's correct, I normally leave my maincrop about 20 weeks, whenever the plants start to die down. Fingers crossed your remaining bags come up trumps for you!

[rustylady]

Agree with the above timings, but as I'm a cautious soul I never tip out a bucket or dig up a plant without having a "furtle" first. Furtle just means gently digging down with your fingers to see if you can uncover any worthwhile sized spuds.

[galiano]

I always have waited until the tops turn brown and die. Better to be patient with potatoes so you don't end up with golf ball sized ones or smaller.