Potatoes!!!

[jobrac1]

Hello all I am new to all this gardening stuff but have managed to grow some broad beans and sugar snap peas and they are very tasty if i do say so myself. my problem is when and how do i tell if my potatoes are ready without digging them up can any one advise

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Jobrac! Welcome on board. Early potatoes are normally ready about 13 weeks after planting and main crop about 22 weeks after planting. I wait until the foliage starts to die down before I dig up our potatoes. I hope this helps.

[jobrac1]

Hi Lesley and thank you, will do that then but can't wait to start eating them i must confess I am a new potato addict. I'm growing home guard and desiree The desiree are in flower, still waiting for the others to come into flower thanks again for taking time to reply

[dwrudd]

Hi Jobrac,

Welcome to the vine, there seem to be several approaches to getting the timing right, some wait for the foliage to start to yellow as you just read ( I do this also ) but others count the weeks from planting.

Most however, tend to have a little rummage at the base of the plant until they reach the first few spuds and get an idea of size this way. You don't have to dig them up, just uncover to have a peep. BUT COVER THEM UP AGAIN if you are waiting a little longer as any exposed to the surface will turn green and are not edible.

Good luck

Darren

[toffeeman]

Also new to this game. Turned a small part of the garden over to veg and tried potatoes for the first time. Watched the big dig (Sundays -BBC2 10am). A fella from who had an allotment in Wales was pulling his earlies in June so thought I'd have a look. (planted April). On the plate for Sunday lunch. Deep joy.

[bramble]

Well done toffeeman, is there anything in the world more satisfying than groeing your own. Makes all the hard work well worth while.

[SueA]

Hi all you 'new' potato growers, I'm a big fan of the 'rummage around in the soil' method. I tend to count the weeks and try to wait until the foliage starts to die down but usually end up feeling around in the soil as well.

[nick the grief]

The answer is easy. When you buy your seed tatties next year plant some in bags in your greenhouse & you can have new spuds weeks earlier than having to wait for the ones in the ground

[toffeeman]

Can the rest of the plant be put on the compost heap - thinking of viruses etc ?

[bramble]

I have to say i don't put the stalks or the leaves on the compost heap for that very reason that you mentioned. Others may differ with me but i just don't take the chance.

[SueA]

If there's no sign of blight or anything then it's O.K. to put the leaves in your compost heap but as mine often look as though they're starting to get blight by the time I pull the leaves up I don't usually.

[Helenclare]

How do you know if they have blight? I am panicing now as I put mine on the compost heap without giving it a thought..they had died down a little and just looked a bit yellow and wilted, is this how healthy foliage looks when its run its course?
Thanks Helen

[Lesley Jay]

Yes Helen your old potato plants are normal. With blight you get brown leaves and stems and rotten potatoes.

[nick the grief]

I don't put mine in the compost bin but I doo put them in the Green bin& let the council have them. As this is done on an industrial scale the compost heap heats up to a higher temperature for longer than I can get in my little bin, so it will kill most nasties.

I wouldn't have thought that Blight would be a problem this year as it is a fungus & relies on humid condidtion to thrive.

[Lou-lou]

Can I plant Potatoes Now?

I am confused, I have borrowed numerous gardening books from the library and 1 says I can plant potatoes now but the others do not mention planting them in July for an autumn harvest. Can I plant now or is it best to wait untill next year?
Also has anybody tried Potatoes in No-dig bed with just Mulch on top?

Thanks

Louise