Johnplotman's Journal

Can't wait to see mine flowering. One thing about growing them in bags is that they have to be turned regularly to even out the growth. Never noticed that before. At what stage, John, do I earth them up? The foliage is about 10 inches tall.

Looking great John.

I would have thought you should have earthed them up before this but shall watch this with interest.

When planting potatoes I had some second earlies left over. So I just stuck it the compost bag. Toped up 2 or 3 times. Flowers are going to open in the next couple of days. Now, how long do you wait after flowering to start checking for spuds?

Krista, I think when the foliage starts to die down, they are ready for harvesting.

Leave about 15 cm of the foliage for them to keep growing up Jacinta.Earth up each time to allow that much height.Ready when the flowers are fully open[or the buds drop],for harvesting.[June-July].

Main crop can be lifted from app August onwards,when the stems have withered.[For storage]

Thanks Fran.

The potatoes will have been earthed up at 2 different stages Mairin,and in some cases up to 3 times,once height goes above 15 cm.If allowed grow to full height,then growth stops.On the outdoor beds if the earthing up is not done then greening will appear on the potatoes [Glycoalkaloids] from sunshine where available to light,and leave them unedible..

Ready Krista,when the flower buds open,or as Jacinta mentiones when foliage starts to die down,[or the buds drop.] Earlies around June to July.Dont pull all out at once Krista if not ready for them.If very small potatoes are left untouched in the container they will stay growing.Sometimes here we just root into the compost and pull what is needed from them and get as much as possible from the container used.Damage the stalk and growth is finished.The potatoes from the container should be about the size of a hens egg.

Wow,John!!!That great,spuds in flower at begin of may!!!Well done!

Fine leafy growth!

Such a delight new potatoes straight from the garden, wish I had some that far on was thinking of moving some of my earlies in bags into the tunnel. Do you think this cause a problem having started them outdoors ?