potato questions

[Nick Blair]

I was told that the time to dig up potatoes was when the plant flowers, I had dug some up when this happened, but I noticed that there was still some baby potatoes growing on roots.

Is what I was told wrong? When is the best time to dig them up?

Also, if you forget to earth over a potatoe plant, can you store the green potatoes for next year sowing? I did not earth over all of them.

[mrpaulbradley]

Hi Nick. Generally wait until after the plant flowers and the halums (green stems) have started to die back. Also remember that not all varieties of potato flower.
As for green potatoes. Give it a go, just don't eat them, you'll be sick.
Hope you're enjoying the fruits of your labour. Or should that be the tubers of your labour!

[Aberdeenplotter]

The plant flowering is just an indication that the potatoes may soon be ready, nothing more than that. have a feel under the soil and check out what is there before digging them up. As for green potatoes, definitely unedible but good for seed next year. Even if earthed up, some varieties are still prone to poking through the soil so be vigilant and keep them covered. No point in all that work if no edible return for your labour.

[Flummery]

It also depends on whether they were Early, Second Early or Maincrop potaotes. If you harvest maicrops now you won't get the full crop and there will be tiny ones there.

[Nick Blair]

It also depends on whether they were Early, Second Early or Maincrop potaotes. If you harvest maicrops now you won't get the full crop and there will be tiny ones there.

I think they are maincrop variaties, yes there were tiny ones there but they were not attached to any visable root.

[Two_Sheds]

there was still some baby potatoes growing on roots.

there were tiny ones there but they were not attached to any visable root.

Um, which is it? *confused*

[Nick Blair]

Um, which is it? *confused*

Well, what I mean is, I did take some small ones out that were not attached to any roots, but there was some tiny ones attached to roots, I leaved them ones in the ground.

[Two_Sheds]

Yep, leave them on if possible, continue watering & feeding and they'll swell up in no time

[Nick Blair]

I was surprised that the ones I had taken out had no roots attached, I suppose the roots had died or something.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Nick, the time to harvest main crop spuds is when the haulms have died back, i.e. the greenery has turned brown and shriveled.

Even then there will always be some very small spuds as the plant continues to try and ensure its life cycle will continue.

As long as you was satisfied with your harvest and you have learnt a little then thats good for a first go.

Colin

[Nick Blair]

Nick, the time to harvest main crop spuds is when the haulms have died back, i.e. the greenery has turned brown and shriveled.

Even then there will always be some very small spuds as the plant continues to try and ensure its life cycle will continue.

As long as you was satisfied with your harvest and you have learnt a little then that good for a first go.

Colin

I should do, thanks. Potato plants do not last more than a year? Is it because of the British climate why they die back?

[rustylady]

I should do, thanks. Potato plants do not last more than a year? Is it because of the British climate why they die back?

No Nick, it's not the climate - it is the kind of plant they are

[Tattie-muncher]

Nick, thanks for asking that question, the advise was very useful to me as well, I did have a ferret around my spud roots, and found three or four over grown ping pong balls and a couple of shrunken marbles, I'm leaving well alone for now

[Two_Sheds]

Potato plants do not last more than a year?

Nope, they're annuals: grow, set seed and die all within one year

[Flummery]

I usually leave maincrop spuds for about 20 weeks from planting time. So from an end of March planting I would start to lift the potatoes at the end of August or beginning of September. I think if you leave them you will be much happier with your haul.