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First earlies

bellysherebellyshere Posts: 24
in Fruit & veg
Hi folks. My first earlies still haven't flowered. I'm right in thinking i have to wait until they have before harvesting?
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Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Mine haven't flowered yet either. I think I'm going to tip out one of the bags and see what's what. Could do with some tatties for tonight and I can't be bothered to go to the shops.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Some varieties don’t flower. What sort are they?

    Dont tip them out … gently reach in the soil underneath and have a bit of a ferret around. If they feel the size of a hens egg then dig them up. If not leave them and give them a bit more water. 

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





  • bellysherebellyshere Posts: 24
    Dovefromabove said:
    Some varieties don’t flower. What sort are they?

    Dont tip them out … gently reach in the soil underneath and have a bit of a ferret around. If they feel the size of a hens egg then dig them up. If not leave them and give them a bit more water. 

    Pentland Javelin and Sharpe's express where the two first earlies i put in.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    They usually flower … it’s a long time since I grew either but I seem to remember PJ taking a bit longer for the potatoes to grow to a decent size than other earlies, so I think I’d check out the Sharpes Express first. 😊 

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





  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Mine are Accent, which can apparently be harvested as an early or left longer. Will go out in a bit and have a look/feel.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    For earlies don't worry about flowers, I grow a type called Solist this year I planted 30kg, only about 1 in 5 plants have flowered but the potatoes are already way to large for "earlies"
    As Dove says just have a bit of a dig around and see what size they are down there.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Mine had produced several potatoes that were pretty big for new potatoes and some nice small ones as well.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Penny_ForthemPenny_Forthem Posts: 455
    I have grown Swift and Rocket and they haven't flowered either. Someone told me, knowledgeably, that 'the potatoes form after the flowers'. I was going to put him right, but somehow, he knew he was right!! 
    Beautiful North Wales - hiraeth
  • bellysherebellyshere Posts: 24
    Thanks folks. I’m going to have a root tonight. 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    For comparison I'll leave the other bags for a few more weeks. I'd rather have more small potatoes than the big ones getting bigger, but maybe I need a different variety for that. Any suggestions?
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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