8" Potatoe Plant has flowered? EEEEK is something wrong?

[polc1410]

I've grown spuds in my garden before and from experience I'd expect them to be 18" or more before they flower.

I planted some chitted earlies (Pentland Javlin) in my new allotment, in dug but untreated soil. They came up fine and the leaves look OK. I haven't earthed up as some people say its not necessary.

These plants are only abouyt 8" tall now, and two of them are flowering...?

I didn't water during the last couple of weeks when its been dry as people say its not necessary unless it gets mega dry.

Planted a couple of rows (Maris Peer & Anya) behind them a few days later, they weren't chitted and they are about 12" tall and not yet flowering.

Maincrop (Maris Piper, Rooster & Apache) planted a week after that and are also 12" and not flowering.

So Have I done something wrong?

[Two_Sheds]

Some flower, some don't.

It's nothing to worry about

[frogga]

Some of mine are in flower, just leaving them until I need them

[rustylady]

When did you plant them Polc?

[polc1410]

Planted easter weekend.

Do we not think 8" is too small... ...smut not intended.

[zazen999]

Depends on how deep they are

[Paulieb]

I harvested some Lady Christl from a bucket on the weekend, and it was one of many that I started at intervals through Feb and Mar.

I had left this bucket in particular as the foliage was only about 12" max (a nice compact bushy plant), where other varieties were over 2ft.

I still got a decent crop, all decent sized tubers, but from this I would suspect that height of the plant has no effect on yield.

[buzzingtalk]

Ooooh lovely this means mine might be ready then - is there a definate way to know when your spuds are ready for harvest? Or is it a matter of just digging some up and seeing? i planted mine mid-late March due to the crap weather.