How do I know when my Charlottes are ready?

[gardening_gal]

I have 4 tubs with Charlotte potatoes. As I'm an unorganised dippit, I didn't bother to note a) when they were planted and b) how long they were to grow for. I can't even remember what month I put them in there.

They have little pale pinky coloured flowers on them, not lots of flowers, just a few.

The stems and leaves etc are still green.

Any pointers warmly welcomed.

[bearded bloke]

Have a gentle 'furtle' in the compost & feel the general size of the tubers

[Potstubsdustbins]

If your not sure, you could always leave them longer, its hard I know but a couple of extra weeks won't hurt them. I usually harvest somewhere between 12 and 18 weeks.

[astraman1]

you have 4 tubs harvest one tub to see what size they are you can always replant the haulms if there are loads of baby potatoes in

[Snadger]

I've eaten half of mine, but thats is because i planted quirte a lot and took a chance.

Furtling sounds a good idea and you may even be able to furtle a boiling without uprooting the plants, otherwise wait a while.

[Nicos]

Mine were ready to start taking after 8 weeks.
They were in full flower( not many)
Just Stick yr finger in the soil and and feel what's there?
I've previously taken the largest and left the smaller spuds in there to grow on.
In time ( and lots of water) they can get to the size of jacket spuds

[Potstubsdustbins]

^^^Double breasted????

[Nicos]

Charlottes are my most favourite spud...so, so versatile for a waxy spud....and the flavour...well, just way more than yummy!

[Nicos]

Snadge.... Sorry, but I need to pull the joke post...not just cos it's rubbish ...but because of the no joke policy on here....

[gardening_gal]

*wonders what I missed*

Thank you all. I shall have a rake around in one of the pots later today then. Fingers crossed I find something at least.

It will be interesting to see if the soil has made a big difference or not. I did a wee experiment for curiosity more than anything else. One pot was planted in 'council' freebie compost, one was planted in a half and half mix of council compost and a major brand and the other two were major brand only.

The council compost one was the slowest to grow but is the one with the most flowers on now ironically.

Will let you know the outcome as and when.

[BUFFS]

I wait two weeks after the foliage has died down and been removed,the tatties seem to "set" and keep better, that's what I was taught anyway and it seems to work for me..

[gardening_gal]

Ok I'm a bit concerned. I've just a rake around in one of the top pots and found nothing. Not even a marble. My arm was in there up to it's elbow.

Surely it's not possible for potatoes to just not grow?

They are in these things....




......so I would have expected to find something by now.

This is the first time I've used these pots. I previously used large tubs and the potatoes were not too far down and there were loads of them.

[Nicos]

Keep watering them!...bet they're hiding

[bearded bloke]

They are in these things....

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How many collars have you added ?

[gardening_gal]

There are three layers BB, exactly like the tower at the right of the picture above.

I stuck my hand in the other tubs too and found one normal size potato and one marble and that was it. I think it's not looking good.

I'll leave them be for a while but I have a bad feeling.