Dying Potatoes

[royboy60]

Hi,

I planted 5 seed potatoes in a container, this year it was a jute sack, 4th March, Maris piper as I recall. I laid them in 6in manure (fresh) and topped up with compost, topping up with old and new compost, as I usually do.The halms have now died off. I dug one up and had some nice small tatties, size of golf balls. I water constantly, but have also had lots of rainwater.
Should I cut off halms and leave, or pull them up and use? There is a second bag going the same way. The only thing I have done slightly different is give them a weak feed of tomatoe feed.
Thanks for any advise/comments
Roy

[Penellype]

It sounds as though they have finished. You can either dig them up and use them now or you could dig them up and store them, or leave them where they are. I'd remove any dead material. The hazard with leaving them where they are is that they could get attacked by slugs. I tend to bring my bags and buckets indoors when they have completely died down to try to prevent slug attack - they no longer need watering.

[Jungle Jane]

I remove the haulms then leave them in their bags outside for a couple of weeks,harvesting as needed. Don't water them but don't worry if a bit of rainwater gets in there. If any potatoes are near the surface of the compost they could turn green,if that's a risk I'd have a little search through the top section of the bag to check,you could take a few out if you want & leave the others in there.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Maris Piper is a main crop and they have been in nearly 23 weeks which is about right.

If you are only getting small spuds this could be down to a couple of things. If your using a standard size sack I believe 5 seeds is to many, I only plant 4 to a 80ltr dustbin. I tried 5 and got the same yield with regards to weight but there were very few bakers and lots of boilers.

You say you have had plenty of rain, but I have found over the years that once the haulm is over the top of the container rain makes very little difference to the watering regime. My neighbours stand at the window to watch the loony next door standing in the rain watering his potato containers.