Harvested potatoes too early?

[giggler]

Hi all

I'm having a go at growing my own fruit and veg this year, about a month ago 1 had my early potatoes and I'm constantly picking the strawberrys

Anyway 2 weeks ago I thought I had blight on my spuds, but after some research on here I thought it was just 'die back' My spuds had flowered and the leaves were turning brown and yellow and everything just looked like it was 'over'

I thought it was a bit early to harvest but had a good root around (in my potato bag) and just below the surface I found 4 lovely medium sized blue belle potatoes so I got hubby to tip them out today imagining much bigger ones closer to the bottom.

I was very disappointed when The 4 big ones at the top were about it really, there were a few more medium sizish and lots that just looked like new poataoes but lots more tiny ones growing along the roots.

Bit cheesed off now, thought it was too early, but is it usual for things to look like they are dying off so early. I have shoved some of the bigger chunks back in the bag and covered them again but I think I am kidding myslef that they are gonna grow as I cut the foliage off before harvesting.

So....being a total newbie to this malarky has anyone got any tips for future years (be patient!! I know is one!) and are these spuds likely to start growing again?

Thanks all, sorry about the long windedness!

[Gwen11ian]

Were your potatoes well watered and fed all summer? They're thirsty and hungry feeders, particularly more so when you've got them in bags/pots. They really need a certain amount of attention to keep them happy when grown out of the ground.

Also depends on what size pots/bags you've used as well, as to the quantity produced.

[SarzWix]

I have decided, after many such disappointing harvests, that it's pointless growing early potatoes in big deep sacks or containers. The foliage dies off long before the plants have time to grow tubers all the way up the long stems. In fact, I've wondered whether the energy used to grow such big stems actually takes away from tuber production. (Maybe Tattieman has some ideas on this one?)

Anyway, I grow earlies in buckets now, thus wasting less time and compost, and get about the same amount of spuds as I did before... (With the exception of this year, when a frost setback and a lack of water has meant a smaller yield).

If you can find a salad potato billed as an Early Maincrop, these are a bit more worthwhile of the deep container and extra earthing up, in my opinion.

[giggler]

hi

yes i watered them really well they had a good gallon watering can most nights and i fed them once or twice, they were planted with bfb as well.

They were in the fit for purpose sacks that you can get.

Do you think they might continue growing without any foliage?

Thanks

[tattieman]

I have decided, after many such disappointing harvests, that it's pointless growing early potatoes in big deep sacks or containers. The foliage dies off long before the plants have time to grow tubers all the way up the long stems. In fact, I've wondered whether the energy used to grow such big stems actually takes away from tuber production. (Maybe Tattieman has some ideas on this one?)

I find that I get a better crop of potatoes in the black polypots that are only 12" high and have one potato in them.
The normal potato bags produce a nice crop but by the time the earlies have got to the top it has taken them 2 weeks to get there and that is 2 weeks less that the plant has had time to develop foliage and tubers.

I am going to plant xmas potatoes soon and I will roll the green bags halfway down and try it that way.

[Caro]

Tattieman, does that mean, though, that if you give them an extra two weeks to grow they will catch up?

I harvested my Vales Emerald at 14 1/2 weeks. I had some nice spuds, but a huge number of weenies, which i wish i'd given more of a chance to grow. I've put off harvesting my charlottes, and they've now been in just over 16 weeks. The haulms aren't really showing signs of die-back (neither had the Vales Emerald, i just got impatient and assumed not all varieties would show die-back) so I'm leaving them in as long as I can bear.

Surely after 17 weeks or so they should be ready? or would folk advise me to hold off?

For us potato newbies, it does all get confusing