potato question

[stella]

Hi this year I put 3 seed pots in a tub, just to see what would happen. I got a surprisingly good crop from them. I harvested the lot but left 2 tiny ones in the tub plus put in 3 baby new pots that I had in. I now have a tub full of green tops about 6 inches high. Can any one tell me when to harvest

[Flummery]

Depends when you did it and what type they are. If they are earlies they still need 10-12 weeks growing time. They'll need protection from frost too.

[stella]

I put them in about 6/7 weeks ago. Can easliy lift the pot into the shed if it looks like frost. Can I tell by what happen to the leaves as to when they are ready. I cant imagine they will flower?

[Jeanied]

I think you will have to use the tried and tested method of furtling, Stella, to see if there is anything to harvest when they have had 12 weeks. Even in the ground in summer I can never tell what I'm going to get until I dig them up!

[stella]

Urmmmmm whats furtling?? As they are in a pot if I dig one up I dig them all. Is it possible for pots to do anything at this time of year

[Jeanied]

Furtling is done with the fingers - you probe until you find a spud or two and just use what you want. Easier to do in a pot of compost. If you don't find any spuds I suppose you leave the plants for a while longer!

[stella]

That sounds easy enough

[Two_Sheds]

To make furtling easier, put a mulch around your spud haulms. Then to harvest, you only need to brush aside the mulch and there are the spuds all clean and lovely (newspaper and/or grass clippings are what I use as spud mulches)

[Flummery]

I definitely think 6 - 7 weeks isn't long enough. Many earlies don't flower either.

[tattieman]

You will need to give them at least 12 weeks to get anything of a decent size.
Protect them from frost and you should be ok as Flummery says.

[stella]

Thanks for the help I shall wait and see.