Charlotte Potatoes

[robfosters]

If you planted them on 1st April, when would you be looking to harvest them?

I know 2nd earlies normally take 16+ weeks, but i've heard Charlottes are a bit quicker than other 2nd earlies.

True or false?

[shirlthegirl43]

Have a furtle under a plant and see what you find. If you are gentle and think the spuds are too small you can bury them again

[Jardiniere]

mine went in in March and the tops are all died down now and underneath there are potatoes....i know we are a little hotter here but i would imagine you will have some , as Shirl, says, have a furtle...nothing like a good furtle.

[robfosters]

Had a furtle, but found nothing of interest.

However, I am a very tentative furtler. When I furtle, most of the time I hear a crack and panic thinking I have done the roots in. So I stop.

At what stage does a potato come away from the roots?

[shirlthegirl43]

Are they in the ground or in containers?

[robfosters]

containers

[shirlthegirl43]

very carefully shoogle the container (on its side so you don't break the greenery) until you shake the whole plant and its roots out onto an empty compost bag or sheets of newspaper - you will be able to see any spuds. If there are none, put the whole lot carefully back into the container. This will also let you see whether your plants need more water.

[solway cropper]

The 16 week business is only an approximation. Whether or not you have usable potatoes depends on all sorts of factors. I've had small Charlottes after 12 weeks but they obviously get much bigger if you leave them.

[Flummery]

They are a second early so I'd give them 14 weeks. Mid July maybe?

[robD]

Planted mine around them and I'm eating them now. They're in the ground though, so not sure if that makes any difference? Decent size now, and don't really want them too much bigger personally.

Depends on how many pots you've got going I guess though - I always try and feel how big they are underground and then end up digging them up, but I've got a few rows of them so it's not so bad if I dig one up too early.