First time growing early potatoes- when to harvest

[xyz123]

hi

newbie here. had my first attempt at growing any veg this eyar and am trying with early potatoes and tomatoes. Both are in containers.

I got some quite large containers for potatoes when planting them around late april and have done my best to keep them watered. have been feeding potato plant with tomato feed for once a week for last two weeks. at the moment the potato plant has got leaves, couple of stems have got small flowrs. but couple of other stems at bottom are wilting and dying down.

any suggestions on when to harvest these. shall i cut the green growth above soil level some time before harvesting? any other tips welcome....

[Potstubsdustbins]

No need to cut back the haulm on early spuds.

It really does depend on what variety they are some are quicker than others, but I like to work on about 12 weeks usually, this year however due to a cold May they may take a little longer.

You could always try a furtle Vine speak for stick you hand down into the container and gently have a feel around.

[Penellype]

I started harvesting my earlies (Rocket) 8 weeks after the foliage appeared above the soil. They were actually planted in February and the shoots started to appear at the beginning of April. It depends on the variety though - last year I grew Pentland Javelin and they were much slower.

[xyz123]

Thanks for ur replies. I will try to find out which variety I bought. As general guidance, what shall I look for to determine if they are ready to harvest. Is it the size of them or no. Of or something else. Thanks for ur help.

[Dorothy rouse]

I've grown Rocket, planted at Easter, and am now using them,cos they are delicious. Did a few in buckets, and used those first, small but have some taste. I use them when they are the size I want, bit small really, but I also need the space for more veg.

[Penellype]

The general guideline is that you can start harvesting when the plants flower, but earlies sometimes drop their flowers so it is not at all obvious that they have done so. I don't much care for marble sized potatoes, so I tend to have a poke about at the side of one of the plants to see what is happening and work from there. You may have to go down a few inches, depending on how deep you planted the seed potatoes.