Disappointing First Earlies

[Samurailord]

Hi all

I have been watching my potatoes grow larger and larger over the past few months, and after a quick bit of calculation I reckoned that my Pentland Javelin first earlies had been planted 10 and a half weeks back.

I had been told that the time to harvest first earlies was ten weeks sfter planting as long as they had flowered, so as these had some stunning purple and orange blooms I decided to harvest a sack.

I chose the sack in the poly tunnel - purely because the haulms were starting to flop over and were getting in the way - and broke open the rootball to search for hidden goodies.

Unfortunatly although there were plenty of potatoes, most were about the size of a pea.

I did manage to get about a pound and a half of reasonable size potataoes out, with a couple being about hen egg sized.

My question is - was I just too eager or could it have been down to not watering enough? They got about half a bucket every two or three days, but the compost was still very dry when I harvested.

Something else just occurred to me - a few others on the Forum have reported orange and purple flowers on their Pentland Javelins, but the flowers are supposed to be pure white. We all purchased our tubers from a £store, so maybe these weren't Pentland Javelin at all and therefore maybe not a first early?

Anyone else had this problem?

Andy

[Potstubsdustbins]

Two things stand out.

(1) All spuds are behind this year, the cold weather earlier in the year delayed my harvest by about 3 weeks.

(2) If the compost was in anyway dry then the have not been getting enough water. I don't know how big your sacks are but my dustbins with 4 tubers in each are getting a 2 gallon bucket each most days at this time.

Oh and did you feed them?

Potty

[Bigmallly]

Although PJ is a 1st early Andy, it is apparently one of the last to mature.

How To Grow Potatoes | Pentland Javelin Seed Potatoes |

[Two_Sheds]

I had been told that the time to harvest first earlies was ten weeks sfter planting

In optimum conditions, and with the right variety, perhaps.

I use the 3 month rule, myself (most of my veggies are ready 3 months after planting, but that depends on weather).

[~kirsty~]

I've waited for mine to totally die down and got a very good crop, I did the same as you did with one of my charlotte plants which had withered away, but they were little, left them and watered for another week and came out with normal sized charlottes. Think they need lots of water and patience this year.

I did have a spud related question though - when leaving potatoes in the ground for their skins to set, do they still need a watering?

[WendyC]

I would say no. The only reason to water them it to make them grow. Once there is no foliage they aren't going to grow anymore so no point in watering, if that makes sense!

[sammy_roser]

I waited until the foliage started to die back, got an OK crop out of the dustbins but the small buckets did much better, I didn't water them enough that's for sure!

[Polytastic]

In optimum conditions, and with the right variety, perhaps.

I use the 3 month rule, myself (most of my veggies are ready 3 months after planting, but that depends on weather).

Jamie Olliver says 10-12 weeks and i am looking for mine in a week or two. Take heart, when they do come through for you there will be nothing like it.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I hate to say this but J.O. is a chef.........................

This year it really does depend on when you actually planted the seed. My log shows that mine planted in the GH on 05/03 took till the 29/03 before they showed any kind of green growth. That was exceptionally slow and therefore the harvest was delayed. If you planted later then you may get away with the 12 week timing.

Potty