Potato harvesting

[shellyanne1987]

My potatoes have started to show flower heads on the foliage so time to harvest, but how do I go about harvesting? I have them in a grow bag (excuse the small boy) do I need to cut the foliage off and turn the bag upside down and Harvest from bottom up or what? I've read many conflicting advise online so thought I'd ask here as you all give great advise and I trust other growers thanks a lot


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[Nannysally99]

Last year we just tipped the bag out and harvested that way. This year we've got loads planted, so once their ready will just dig in with our hands and get them as needed. There's only two of us, but for a family you would need to harvest the whole bag maybe

[shellyanne1987]

Thanks very much I'm sure that will make my little man very happy a good excuse to get his hands dirty


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[cariann88]

I always thought you harvested potatoes when the flowers die????


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[WendyC]

I would wait until the foliage has died down a bit but it depends how big you want your potatoes or how desperate for new potatoes you are.

[Bigmallly]

If you have plenty to harvest & your little man wants to get his hands dirty just tip the bag upside down & let him find the treasure.....................

[shellyanne1987]

They came with instructions to harvest when the flower heads came in, it's my first time growing them so if you guys say they should be left till the flowers die off then il take that as good advice I don't want to do it to early! I love the idea of letting my boy find the treasure that's great il definatly be doing it that way thanks great idea


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[Bigmallly]

The flowers are only there to produce seeds. They are of no detriment to the spuds.

[Bill HH]

If they are earlies and they were planted at the start of April then you could harvest them now, you don't get a lot because they are small but so delicious. But if you planted them later I would wait a while. If they are main crop you need to be waiting another couple of months or more. Flowers don't give a very good indication, some don't flower at all.

You can always have a "Furtle" which is digging your hand into the bag and carefully feeling for spuds.

[Jonnyt]

I disagree if planted at the start of April they likely need another 3 to 4 weeks


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[Potstubsdustbins]

It depends on the variety Swift for instance can be ready in as little as 8 weeks at this time of year. Where as Lady C will need 10 to 12 weeks.

[Bill HH]

I disagree if planted at the start of April they likely need another 3 to 4 weeks


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I have just harvested a container of Rocket planted April 1st They yielded 4 lb 8oz from 3 seed potatoes,

I wouldn't have wanted them much bigger as new potatoes. I agree some earlies take longer but Rocket really get a bat on. And despite rumours to the contrary they were very good eating.

[cheops]

Unless you want or need the potatoes now I would wait till the foliage starts to die. In fact if you leave them undisturbed for months after that even, they will be fresh and new looking when dug up, whereas if for example you harvested them all at once they will quite quickly go rubbery after a short while if not used. In short - only harvest as you need them. The best place to store them is in the soil they grew. Enjoy!

[Samurailord]

When you tip them out try to do it in a contained area, like in a wheelbarrow or on a groundsheet.

Makes clearing up afterwards so much easier, and it is also easier to find every last tuber.

Andy

[Fleurisa]

As they are in a bag you might be able to feel the potatoes through the side of the bag