When to harvest potatoes?

[fiskies]

Just wondering if anyone has a sure fire tell on when to harvest potatoes when they're at their best. I've heard after the flowers have shown or when the hauls die off, or alternatively to root around gently with hands to see what there.

I don't want to risk disturbing them and want to harvest when I'm guaranteed the best crop, I was a little eager last year and did it after the flowers showed up and had some mixed results?

[Jamesy_uk]

Well if you want to be completely sure and blight isn't an issue then just wait for them to die back my grandad used to say as the haulms feed back nutrients into the tata's. Might just be old farmer giles tales but I have never done any different personally and apart from last year been quite happy with my lot.

[VirginVegGrower]

After flowering for new potatoes. For maincrop you let them flower, haulms then need to die back, cut the foliage off, leave for a couple of weeks in the soil to develop skins suitable for storage.

[Flummery]

Not all spuds flower. I usually go by timings. 10 - 12 weeks from planting for first earlies, 14 for second and 18 - 20 for maincrop. Or your could furtle!

[rustylady]

I like furtling, but as Flum said use the timings as well. Mind you, I grow mine on the lottie - it must be a bit more difficult if you grow in pots or bags.

[Bren In Pots]

I grew Pentland javelin last year and they didn't flower but still produces a fair amount of potatoes.

[Comfreyfan]

I've decided to start furtling from 10 weeks for my first earlies this year - I've usually left them for at least 12 and the spuds are much too big - I love the little ones.

Last year I read somewhere that if you're careful when you furtle out your spuds you can leave the plant in place and it will keep producing - I tried it with a couple of plants and it worked well. Didn't get that many from the second crop, but I reckon if you get any it's a bonus.

[simmo 66]

The amount of rain we haven`t had in Suffolk i doubt i`ll lift any earlies until next bloody year..!

[morverngirl]

What is furtle

[Shadylane]

It means stick you hand in the soil and feel around.

[Flummery]

What is furtle

It's like rummage, but more earthy - fnar fnar!

[Bren In Pots]

I love saying furtle