Potatoes - where to start? (Merged Thread)

Larumbelle

I'm growing mine in those pop-up garden waste bags. And, um, pup-up laundry bags because those were 50p cheaper. Seems to work fine, although I got going extremely late this year.

My tip would be: only plant your sprouting taties if you thought they were good taties to start with! I bought some the other day that were shocking. Didn't matter which way I cooked them, they were awful. I'd have been gutted if I'd grown some like that.

arkonite_babe

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louise_1981

where can I get late mains cheaply? it seems romans have ran out and t&m and suttons are too expensive

rojomymojo

I have never grown spuds before and so put some in this year!

Have got a few lovely purple flowers and wondered when they would be ready! Also, as silly as this may sound, I thought that as they were in a pot, the soil would start to "erupt" up or overflow as the potatoes developed...

All answers would will be appreciated! :T

robnye

from memory i think it is when the flowers have all died off...... i have 5 plants currently flowering and im waiting until the flowers go (or until someone better knowledged points me in a different direction )

DreamerV

That's correct; it's when the flowers start to die.....unless you're growing new potatoes, in which case you can pull them when flowering.

happilass

Hi,
we have just grown our first potatoes and the flowers have all been eaten by ???? so how will i know when to harvest them ? We only put them in about the begining of May.
Thnaks,
Happi

Thomsk

Hi Happi

It depends on the variety and whether they are first early, second early or maincrop. The books tell you that first earlies are ready about 100 days after sowing, second earlies about 120 days and maincrop around 130 days.

I've just dug one root of my Charlottes (a second early salad variety) which went in the ground in April (can't remember the date). The last flowers disappeared about a week ago and some of the foliage is just starting to go yellow, but the tubers are a little small yet. Depending on the variety I think I would be tempted to leave yours a bit longer if you can bear to wait - it's only about 80 days since the start of May.

Thomsk

noonesperfect

I'm growing taties for the first time this year - Nicola (1st earlies I think).
Planted 30/3/08

The flowers have come and gone and the "greenery" is looking quite straggly and slug eaten now.

The last time I had a "firkle" I couldn't feel anything - I'm dying to tip the pots over and see what there is but daren't in case I kill embryo potatoes!

Lord_Gardener

If you planted at the end of Mar should be ready now - go on have another peek! Hopefully, they've been well watered over the months so that the tubers swell to a decent size!!