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Harvesting potatoes

LisaJ73LisaJ73 Posts: 16
in Fruit & veg
I was given some (unnamed) seed potatoes earlier this year and have 4 of them planted out in the garden.  I don't think they are ready to be dug up yet (they were only planted in April) but when do you now when they are ready to be harvested?  Is it when they flower or do you wait until the foliage starts dying back?

I'm new to this potato growing thing so any advice is appreciated!

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Without knowing the variety, I think you are best to assume they were a maincrop type, so wait until the tops go yellow and start to die down, then harvest.  If they were earlies this will still work and you'll just get larger potatoes than 'new' potatoes, which is what the early varieties are usually gorwn for.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • LisaJ73LisaJ73 Posts: 16
    Thanks, I'll give them another month or two then!
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    Let them grow for 70 for early varieties to 140 days for maincrop, I sow Desiree which are said to be an early maincrop and are ready by August, you can leave them in the ground until you want them but when the ground gets wet and cold the slugs may feed on them so I dig mine and dry them before storing in hessian sacks.
  • LisaJ73LisaJ73 Posts: 16
    August/September time then, thanks - I'm looking forward to trying them!
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