Digging up potatoes... then replanting them

[witch-1]

OK I'm needing some potatoes for dinner, dug up a few plants... on each plant is one potato that is darker than the rest. The first time I did this I cooked said dark potato and it wasn't pleasant - is this the original seeder?

Secondly, can I replant it now its plumped up?

Thirdly, is it normal practice to pop potato plants back in after digging up? I did this with my very first plant, and today I have reaped a few more potatoes off it (so glad my experiment worked!)

Thanks for any answers
Jan

[shirlthegirl43]

The odd looking spud is indeed the seed one. Don't know about taking it off and planting it again but I have chucked mine into a heap in the corner with all the old compost out of pots and things to see if I have any success with a spud crop for Christmas.

[rustylady]

That is indeed the original seed potato. How long have your plants been growing? It is reckoned to take 12 - 13 weeks from planting to harvesting (first earlies), maincrops take longer.

[witch-1]

They have been in the ground now since 5th April... they are earlies. I have the date 1st July to really dig them up, but we were out of spuds and needed some for dinner today. The ones I got were of a good size, but there was also some pea size ones still on the roots... so I've replanted these! Especially as it worked on the first plant I dug up a few weeks ago (that was furtling abit far!! but was exciting for a first timer lol).

So, can I replant these seeders? They look healthier than they did when I planted them

Also, does anyone else dig up plants then replant them after taking off the full-size spuds?

Thanks
Jan

ps pentland javelins...they were delicious too!

[Snadger]

Worth a try witch-1!!!!

I have mentioned that I am keeping the original tatties on another thread with the intention of re-planting them in July for Christmas spuds.
I'm keeping them in the light to try and get them to re-chit and grow new sprouts.

Come July I'll know whether it's been a success or not!

[leona]

i missed digging some up last year and theyv grown back this year. i pulled most of them out but left a couple. no idea when to dig them up tho as obviously theyv been in since last year