Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi my earlies have been in the ground for 11 weeks and are all on flower to a greater and lesser extent. The ones in the buckets are just starting to flower but they were put in a bit later. So I am leaving them for now.

We are starting to dig them up from the ground but I am finding a huge variation in the potatoes. Some are weeny, no bigger than my little finger nail and some are bigger than a golf ball.

Is this normal? I thought they would all be about the same size? Also each plant only gives me 4 or so and I thought we would have more.

Did I do something wrong when i planted them?

Thanks janeyo (not that bothered as they taste GREAT just curious for next year!)

You should leave them a bit longer. 12 weeks is about right, but it's been cold and wet: mine are nowhere near ready, after 9 weeks in the ground (still marbles)

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Maturing time for first earlies is 13 weeks according to the books. Also depends on growing conditions, may take a little longer. Tubers always vary in size, you'll get some small ones and some large ones, but if they've been grown correctly and left for long enough you should certainly be getting more than four spuds per plant. Instead of digging them up (which finishes the plant) have a gentle "furtle" with your fingers underneath and simply pick off any spuds worth harvesting. Then simply cover back up with earth or compost and leave them to get on with it.

My earlies have grown super tall in the last couple of weeks, and my main crop are all in flower, but I just keep earthing them up. I think I might give Rusty Lady's 'furtling' technique a try in a week or two!

I think you're a bit too early Janeyo. I would give earlies 13 weeks minimum. Leave them for a couple of weeks and you'll see a big improvement.

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