2015 potato harvests

[Nannysally99]

Thanks for the lovely comments.
They were planted in the first week of April, in last years compost, fortified with BFB and Growmore every Friday along with all the other crops.
I really think the secret is in the watering. My husband has been a star!

[Nannysally99]

Had to harvest another bag of spuds today after the nine for dinner yesterday.
7lb 4oz from two seed potatoes in a potato bag, the smallest container we are using
Fantastic yield, a little bit scabby here and there. Not enough to worry about - yet
Pentland javelin again

[noviceveggrower]

Finally finished digging up my kestrel and Red Roosters. Have had to dig all the Red Roosters up due to slugs so lost a load there.
So first lot were Pentland javelin in at 18lb, Kestrel at 32lb and Red Rooster at 13lb. Best year for spuds so far ever.
Got Desiree and International Kidney plus some other one I got at a bargain 50p per bag to go.

[maverick451]

Dug up some Anyas that were in in a 4x4 square foot garden, 1 per square foot, I didnt earth up I just planted them 12" deep with some fothergills potato fertilizer sprinkled over the soil.

This was a bit of an experiment as usually I grow in pots but I managed to get 8kgs or 17lbs out of this little bed which I was pleased with as its a in a shadier area.

Anyas dont seem to over bulk up like other new potatoes, they just produce loads and loads of little ones so for me next year this is a good variety if you want to leave them in the soil a little longer for July and August salad potatoes.

[CurlyGreen]

Disappointed with my earlies and second earlies. The best yield were probably Maris Peer where I got a lot of small poatoes. Some lovely Kestrels but not many. Casablanca really tasty but small and few. Red Duke of York small.

Last year I grew enough earlies and second earlies to last until past Christmas and we were eating my maincrops until about April. This year I think we'll be lucky to have enough earlies to last us until the maincrops are harvested.

I think I planted a bit early. I normally aim for St Patricks Day for earlies and a week later for maincrops. I think I might wait until the first week of April in future.

But the main problem is that I didn't water or feed. I generally assume the spuds will look after themselves but I must keep more of an eye on them in future. Fingers crossed for my maincrops! I have fed them molasses and will make sure they don't dry out (mind you not much chance of that at the moment!)

They are still magic, even a small crop is nice to have and very little effort.

[SusieG]

2015 potatoes

Have just ordered some Charlotte tubers for August planting, hopefully for Christmas ! Going to be growing in bags outside the GH so ready to move into shelter when frosts etc arrive
This will be my second venture into growing tatties in bags. Had a bit of an unforced break due to moving house etc
Can still remember the joy on finding my first handful of baby tubers ...!!!

[Penellype]

Disappointed with my earlies and second earlies. The best yield were probably Maris Peer where I got a lot of small poatoes. Some lovely Kestrels but not many. Casablanca really tasty but small and few. Red Duke of York small.

Last year I grew enough earlies and second earlies to last until past Christmas and we were eating my maincrops until about April. This year I think we'll be lucky to have enough earlies to last us until the maincrops are harvested.

I think I planted a bit early. I normally aim for St Patricks Day for earlies and a week later for maincrops. I think I might wait until the first week of April in future.

But the main problem is that I didn't water or feed. I generally assume the spuds will look after themselves but I must keep more of an eye on them in future. Fingers crossed for my maincrops! I have fed them molasses and will make sure they don't dry out (mind you not much chance of that at the moment!)

They are still magic, even a small crop is nice to have and very little effort.

Rather than planting date, I think lack of water is likely to be the cause of your poor yields. The eastern half of the UK had a very dry spring and early summer and this is likely to have been the problem. If you can't water regularly, a mulch of something (even chopped up weeds or cardboard) would help retain moisture in the soil.

[vixylix]

Hello all, apologies if I'm jumped on to the wrong thread but looking for some potato advice!

I have planted rocket potatoes - potato 'Rocket' (PBR)
(potato - extra early salad, Scottish basic seed potato)

I havent pulled them up as they're still looking really green and healthy and I've been waiting for them to die off! Should I have pulled them up already? Will it do them harm leaving them in?

they were looking limp and sorry for themselves a few weeks ago but I thought they were just very dry so have been watering lots - they're now looking healthy again!

Help?

[bario1]

Should I have pulled them up already?

Help?

Depends when you planted them!

[CurlyGreen]

Thanks Penellype.

I think you are right, we didn't get any rain for ages. They were mulched with straw but I didn't water until right at the end of the dry period when some wilted. I could have watered earlier though ... still living and learning

[vixylix]

Depends when you planted them!

Sorry that would have been helpful - would have to check at home for exact date but it was early April - so they've been in for around 18 weeks?!

[Penellype]

Rocket are very early and can be harvested after about 12 weeks so you should be fine to dig them up. It shouldn't do any harm to leave them where they are as long as they don't get blight or attacked by slugs. I harvested my last bucket of rocket about 10 days ago and they were fine - the longer you leave them (as long as they have greenery) the bigger the potatoes will get.

[vixylix]

Perfect thanks Penellype! Id prefer them bigger anyway preferably!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Rocket like LadyC will give you some nice bakers as well as new sized spuds if you leave them long enough.

I have been growing LadyC for a number of years now and always leave some in the containers for chippers and bakers.

[1Bee]

Just butting in to say that my Desiree main crop would start to turn very faintly yellow in the middle of new leaves when getting dry - watering seemed to produce an almost miraculous recovery. I mostly try not to water things (we're in Cumbria, so we get extra natural help....!) but the tatties got a good watering can drenching four or five times in May/June.