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All about Potatoes

terrysimmonds06terrysimmonds06 Posts: 16
in Fruit & veg
I was given some seed potatoes so unsure if earlies, main or lates, I planted and have been covering the shoots with soil in a bag, these have now overgrown the bag and are approximately 2 foot high, how do I know when I can harvest these, flowers are starting to develope on the stems
any help is appreciated, by this novice veg grower

Posts

  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    I think conventional wisdom is that when the flowers start to die back, you should harvest.
    East Lancs
  • terrysimmonds06terrysimmonds06 Posts: 16
    Makes sense, thankyou
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If they're a variety that doesn't flower, then when the foliage starts to yellow is a good guide. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    As earlies tend to not have flowers( generally) you probably have mains or lates. To check you could dig around and see if you can find a potato near the top, if you would like little new potatoes pick a few, if not leave them till later. The flowers are usually picked off to keep the plants feeding the roots, and yes they are huge tops, which in a bag need to be tied together. Then wait for the tops to start to die back and then check again. Hope this helps @terrysimmonds06 🙂
  • terrysimmonds06terrysimmonds06 Posts: 16
    Thank you, all makes sense
  • breadmusgrawe903breadmusgrawe903 Posts: 3
    You may try to wait until the tops(or flower if you want so) turned yellow and fell. 
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