Maincrop Potatoes

becks92

When should they be ready approximatley some have had lovely lilac flowers (king Edwards) but so far no sign of any of them dying off

Thanks for the help

Becky

Jabberwock

Hi Becks92,

as a general rule it should be any time from 15 to 20 weeks from planting for maincrop varieties, I tend to leave them be until the stems start to die back a bit and then dig up a stem or 2 to see how they are doing.
Hope this helps
Jabberwock

TravellingAbuela

This was my first year at potato growing. I planted Charlotte salad and Desiree maincrop. I planted both varieties at Easter in tubs and last week I harvested as the stems/leaves were drooping. I was really excited to get a good crop from all my plants, although some of the Desiree were a bit on the small side.

becks92

Thanks guys, they have all flowered and aren't showing the least inclination to start dying so might dig up a few and see what we've got.

jabba4

TravellingAbuela wrote: »

This was my first year at potato growing. I planted Charlotte salad and Desiree maincrop. I planted both varieties at Easter in tubs and last week I harvested as the stems/leaves were drooping. I was really excited to get a good crop from all my plants, although some of the Desiree were a bit on the small side.

Maincrop potatoes will always be a bit on the small side when grown in pots. You're best growing maincrops in the ground and growing earlies or salad poatoes in pots.

jabba4

becks92 wrote: »

Thanks guys, they have all flowered and aren't showing the least inclination to start dying so might dig up a few and see what we've got.

Just bear in mind that unless they get struck by blight, maincrops can stay in the ground until you need them anyway. When the stems do start dying off you can cut the stems and leave the potatoes in the ground. Just dig up the last of them (if you have that many) before the first frosts.