I need an idiots guide to growing spuds!

[vixfinn]

Having read the right books and being supposed to understand the difference between all manner of "earlies" and "maincrops", I can safely say I'm no wiser and need your expert advice please!
In early April I planted King Edwards, Desiree and Charlotte in containers. All are now in bud and I even have a flower on the Desiree. So far so good!
Do all need to be harvested once the flowers die back?
I wanted new potatoes(Charlottes) small obviously but I thought the King Eds and Des' would grow big enough for Roasting etc. Should I leave the bigger spuds in for much longer? Will they rot? Am I going to have 3 varieties of little potatoes. How do I proceed to get gurt big'uns??
Can someone explain to me simply what the difference is between Maincrops and earlies please, I am a little confused

[Pumpkin Becki]

You need to have a chat to tattieman, vix. He's our resident potato guru.

[vixfinn]

Oooh thanks, I will copy the message and PM him incase this one gets lost.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Excellent - he supplied seed potatoes to Medwyn Williams for Chelsea this year. He really is a superstar and very helpful.

[Alison]

The main difference with the different varieties is the length of time they will grow for. If you planted them all on the same day then earlies would be ready after between 60 to 110 days and tend to be smaller and don't keep too well. I tend to dig them up while the foilage is still pretty lush so I can have them nice and small and tasty (and my ones from last year have finally gone manky so I had to throw the last ones away ). Second earlies are next (Charlottes are second earlies) and will be ready after 110 to 120 days so I'd have a furtle after about the 110 to have a see. Again, the foilage may not have died down by then. They're not supposed to keep that well but some of mine which got bigger last year kept well and I actually preferred them after storage as they didn't fall apart so much. Finally there are main crop (some early and some late) which I usually harvest after the foilage has died down. This tends to be between 125 and 140 days.

Basically if you want smaller spuds then you're best harvesting before they've finished their growing ie when there is still lots of healthy green growth but within the periods mentioned above. If you want bigger winter type spuds then wait until the foilage dies down and you maximise the harvest.

Hope this makes sense.

[Nicos]

I try not to be too scientific about things


Mine all go in during Easter weekend- it was the only time we both ad 4 days to get 'stuck in'

I would crop as I needed.
Some of the later varieties would be left in until Xmas.

For me, the important thing was to chop off the tops at the first sign of blight.

Just back off a bit and enjoy your home grown spuds!

ps...grow lots n lots n lots of chives so you can roll them in butter and chopped chives!

[vixfinn]

Thanks all, between you and the great "Tattieman" I have learnt more than than I did in two nights reading!!