Just harvested my spuds

[GlenAmple]

I've just harvested my Maris Peer spuds today and have what I think is a great crop despite them not being sown until the beginning of May due to bad weather.

I planted my seed potatoes into used compost bags, 2 x 120ltr with 4 potatoes each and 1 70ltr with 3 potatoes. They were earthed up until there was a space of about 4 inches left at the top of the bag then left to get on with it. In early August, I decided to see what my crop was like, tried furtling in one 120ltr bag and couldn't feel a thing so decided to empty it and got no more than 1 1/2lbs of potatoes, salad potato sized and smaller. I was quite dissappointed with this and decided to leave the other two bags until the foliage died back before harvesting. That time came today and out of the remaining two bags, I got just over 9lbs of potatoes, most are about salad potato sized but a few are much bigger.

The remaining 120ltr bag produced 4lbs 1/8oz (1.818kg)
7 of these were 3ins (just over 7 1/2 cms) or over in length and the biggest was 3 3/4ins (9 1/2cms) long by 2ins (5cms) wide.

The 70ltr bag produced 5lbs 1/8oz (2.294kg)
6 of these were 3ins or over in length and the biggest was 3 1/2 ins (9cms) long by 2 1/4 ins (5 1/2cms) wide.

I'm quite surprised that the smaller bag produced more potatoes it only had 3 seed potatoes planted in it where as the bigger bag had 4. Next year, I'm going to try putting less potatoes in one bag and see what happens

[northepaul]

I cropped mine yesterday - blue danube also planted late (due to getting an allotment and having nothing to plant!!) 20 tubers and we got 12.207kg - well chuffed!!

[VirginVegGrower]

My maris piper potatoes did very well this year too and outshone the desiree. Definitely one for me again next year.

[bearded bloke]

Harumph,the slugs are enjoying my Cara's rather too much

[VirginVegGrower]

Pellets? Kill the blighters.

[bearded bloke]

Unfortunately they are the pesky underground ones,nematodes for them next year methinks,the above ground ones are keeping the visiting hedgehog happy & fat

[Potstubsdustbins]

Nice one Glen, you say you just left them to get on with it. May I suggest next year when the haulms are developed you give them a dose of tomorite or some other high potash feed. You will find it will get you an even better crop.

Colin

[Nik]

My caras have been gobsmacking. I have sackfulls of them and there's still tonnes in the ground - some of them almost as big a my one year old's head! I've never planted them before - and I don't think I'll ever plant any other maincroppers ever again. They roast, mash and boil a dream.
Can you tell I'm v. proud of my spuds?

[StephenH]

I'll have to get my 'Pink Fir Apple's up soon. I thought it was still a bit early, but the haulm flopped over some time ago.

[Dead Dogs]

Well chuffed with my crop of Kestrels, about 37 kg from 27 seeds. Will be growing them again next year. Also the Pentland Javelin, didn't weigh any as only dug a few at a time that went straight into the pot.

Would have said the the Setanta did well, approx. 40 kg from 28 seeds, but they were attacked by slugs

[Sanjo]

[QUOTE=GlenAmple;892318]I've just harvested my Maris Peer spuds today and have what I think is a great crop despite them not being sown until the beginning of May due to bad weather.

(QUOTE) In early August, I decided to see what my crop was like, tried furtling in one 120ltr bag and couldn't feel a thing so decided to empty it and got no more than 1 1/2lbs of potatoes, salad potato sized and smaller. I was quite dissappointed with this and decided to leave the other two bags until the foliage died back before harvestiThat time came today and out of the remaining two bags, I got just over 9lbs of potatoes, most are about salad potato sized but a few are much bigger.

When you do that first furtle, carefully tip the bag onto an old sheet or similar and SLIDE the spuds out. You may see some tiny spuds still attached to the haulms. You can just as carefully replace these haulms back into the container and add the same compost with a bit of feed and let them grow on a bit. I did this (admittedly a little earlier than you) and got another 2+ pounds off them a month or so later. Worth a go anyway.

[scarletrunner]

One seed potato in a 60 litre bag has just been emptied to produce 9 and one quarter lbs. of kestrel spuds.compost was second hand with fertiliser added.