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  • When should I dig up potatoes?

    What signs should I be looking for as to when to fork up spuds. Currently the pots are flowering and have been for a bout a week.
    The law will hang the man or woman
    Who steals the goose from off the common
    But lets the greater thief go loose
    Who steals the common from the goose
    http://johntygreentoes.blogspot.com/

  • #2
    Originally posted by johnty greentoes View Post
    What signs should I be looking for as to when to fork up spuds. Currently the pots are flowering and have been for a bout a week.
    Fertle or furtle is Junes word of the month!
    My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
    to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

    Diversify & prosper


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    • #3
      Hello Johnty,
      Flowering is not a good indicator as some varieties don't flower! far better method is time, Earlies need 12weeks minimum Late Maincrop 22 weeks. It of course depends how desperate you are as biggest crops are achieved when you let the haulms start to go yellow, but who wants to waite that long for the first "New Potato" taste. If your soil is light and easily worked you could
      ease the soil away with your hands at about 11-12 weeks, or just dig one plant up as at this stage you should get some pots and if not big enough leave the rest another week -tendays
      It's not the growing old I mind but the growing stupid with it!

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      • #4
        When they are ready

        The word is definatley Furtle and it is the act of seeing if ones tatties ( or other crop) is ready for harvesting.
        ntg
        Never be afraid to try something new.
        Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
        A large group of professionals built the Titanic
        ==================================================

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        • #5
          Planted Arran Pilot and Mimi early potatos mid March, and having 'fertled' yesterday, harvested a couple of good size spuds from each plant. Will probably dig up a couple of plants in a day or two to make way for stuff, but it's nice to just get a few each day and let the others grow on for a short while. I've heard with some early varieties it's not good to let them stay in the ground too long as they get starchy, but dunno if that's correct - maybe some guru grapes will confirm...?
          Hope you enjoy your potatoes Jonty, I think Maris Peer has the prettiest flower BTW.
          All at once I hear your voice
          And time just slips away
          Bonnie Raitt

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          • #6
            Originally posted by muckdiva View Post
            Planted Arran Pilot and Mimi early potatos mid March
            How big did your Mimi plants grown too? I also planted some Mimi in mid March, but mine has not even flowered yet. The neighbouring Pentland Javelin, planted about a week later are nearly all in flower.

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            • #7
              Flowering isn't so much an indicator of readiness, it's dependent on the variety. some do, some don't.
              Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

              www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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              • #8
                I normally work up the row as we need them (or the space!) with earlies. As long as there is no blight etc and the slugs aren't messing them up they stay nice and fresh I don't find starchyness a prob and they are really easy to scrape! the skins set once they've been stored.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by ysb33r View Post
                  How big did your Mimi plants grown too? I also planted some Mimi in mid March, but mine has not even flowered yet. The neighbouring Pentland Javelin, planted about a week later are nearly all in flower.
                  The Mimi plants are very small really - in comparision to the Arran Pilots, and no sign of flowers at all - I was surprised to find any potatos, only came across them when looking for the Pilot spuds planted next to them in my raised beds. There were a couple of Mimi potatoes about the size of a hens egg - about the same size as the seed potatos I bought in fact. I would imagine the spud size of these stays small, but hopefully in time - numerous
                  All at once I hear your voice
                  And time just slips away
                  Bonnie Raitt

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by muckdiva View Post
                    Planted Arran Pilot and Mimi early potatos mid March, and having 'fertled' yesterday, harvested a couple of good size spuds from each plant. Will probably dig up a couple of plants in a day or two to make way for stuff, but it's nice to just get a few each day and let the others grow on for a short while. I've heard with some early varieties it's not good to let them stay in the ground too long as they get starchy, but dunno if that's correct - maybe some guru grapes will confirm...?
                    Hope you enjoy your potatoes Jonty, I think Maris Peer has the prettiest flower BTW.
                    My Maris Peers have pweddy liddle purple flowers on them now. I'm going to have a furtle tonight!
                    A simple dude trying to grow veg. http://haywayne.blogspot.com/

                    BLOG UPDATED! http://haywayne.blogspot.com/2012/01...ar-demand.html 30/01/2012

                    Practise makes us a little better, it doesn't make us perfect.


                    What would Vedder do?

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by nick the grief View Post
                      When they are ready

                      The word is definatley Furtle and it is the act of seeing if ones tatties ( or other crop) is ready for harvesting.
                      I thought it was broggling rather than furtling so I am afraid I broggle.
                      Happy Gardening,
                      Shirley

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                      • #12
                        My first ealies are Arran Pilot and they are in flower so I will have a furtle sometime in the next couple of weeks - right?
                        The law will hang the man or woman
                        Who steals the goose from off the common
                        But lets the greater thief go loose
                        Who steals the common from the goose
                        http://johntygreentoes.blogspot.com/

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I had to look up what 'furtle' meant.... when I got home tonight, I got my hands stuck in around one plant, and there was a potato so I 'picked' it and cooked it and we all had a quarter each (the size of two peas!!!). It was delicious...

                          ... not really sure what to do next!

                          I didn't 'furtle' any more 'cos I was scared of disturbing them!

                          My potato was a baby - does this mean I leave them longer? Or not? Quite like small pots.... oh the variety is Pentland Javelin - with no flowers!!

                          Shall keep my eye on this thread...

                          Jan
                          Jan A novice gardener - first year of growing

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                          • #14
                            I planted Charlotte about 12 weeks ago - do you think they are ready to pull up? Am going to get stuck in tomorrow and see what's down there!

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                            • #15
                              Usually about 12 - 14 weeks is reckoned for earlies - this includes Pentland Javelin and Charlotte. If you don't want to furtle, try lifting one root. You'll get something but if it doesn't seem much (or they're particularly small) leave it another week and lift another. The flavour of those you do lift will spur you on! When you seem to be getting a decent crop, then it's new potatoes every day!
                              Whoever plants a garden believes in the future.

                              www.vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated March 9th - Spring

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