Harvesting potatoes in the rain

[Flummery]

It's a bit hard to give advice without knowing the varety because maincrop and earlies are so different. However, if the foliage has died down they won't grow any more will they - so you might as well dig them up. Flowering can be misleading. Some flower very early. Many have white flowers, many pink, some almost lilac.

If the foliage is still ok you can let them grow on a bit more and get bigger spuds. Hope that helps.

[moggssue]

Thanks Flummery, and sorry I cant give you any more info - next year I'll be much better prepared! My foliage looks fine so I'll leave the plants a few more weeks.
pammiep - I didnt know whether to feed potatoes either so asked on another thread. Got slightly mixed response as to whether it makes a diff or not so I'm feeding half of them now that I've stopped earthing up and leaving the other half - my own little experiment to see what diff it makes! I havent watered for weeks though, just hoping the rain is getting to the bottom of the containers. You?

[pammiep]

I never fed them but put them in a mixture of manure and peat and havent watered since the rain but like I said when I emptied the container it was just damp. It will be interesting to see results of your experiment. Better get some work done I'm in office but keep having a read of forum. naughty girl.

[moggssue]

Haha, I'm the same - in the office having a quiet spell - slap wrists! I'll post the results of my experiment, not that I expect it to be much help to anyone since I dont really know what I'm doing !

[dexterdoglancashire]

My potato plants are huge as well, must be 3' now (sorry, dont know the variety cos I 'inherited' them) and I'm worried they'll be all leaf and no potato. Maybe its the weather we've been having pammiep? Someone who knows more than me will be along to tell us shortly no doubt.

I've got the same quandrey moggssue. I seem to have a lot "up top" (as regards my tatties boys!) but not sure what is below. Concensous (sp?) of opinion is to leave them in till you need em. Bernie

[moggssue]

Okay, they're staying right where they are for a while longer then. Do I wait until the foliage starts to die do you think? At the mo it all looks perfectly healthy, if huge, and with pretty flowers. I tried a little furtle (just cos I like the sound of it!) and couldnt feel anything but didnt go down too far in case I disturbed anything.

[Flummery]

If they're main crop, leave them till they die down. If they're first or second earlies you could eat them now - if you don't know - dig one up. You've only lost one. You'll get something at least and if it's a main crop you can leave the others.

[moggssue]

Okay, major lesson here - always make sure you know what you're planting!!!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Okay, major lesson here - always make sure you know what you're planting!!!

Agree! and definately make sure I use larger labels with non-fading ink! Bernie

[HappyMouffe]

Digging up the second early potatoes at the moment is fun - they come up with a satisfying squelching sound - and this is on well drained sandy soil

[Two_Sheds]

Pink Fir can stay in the ground till Oct/Nov (I was still digging them in Dec last year) If the blight doesn't get em...

[dexterdoglancashire]

Thanks to everyones advice the tatties are staying put till I need 'em - unless I see blight of course! Bernie