Are my spuds ready

[David]

Hi all

I planted some Foremost in half growbags in the greenhouse as recommended on the forum - the haulms (?) are about 4 feet high and the first flowers have just opened.

Can you tell me if they are now ready to harvest - veri excited to get at them!

Thanks

David

[Chez]

Hello David - we've done the same as you with Foremost and trying to wait until the flowers are all opened. Have you felt the side of the bag for any potatoes to guage size? That was meant to be one of the benefits of the growbag technique. Hmmm... we have found with Swift (that's the only one we've harvested so far) that the smallest potatoes are on the outside, with the larger ones hidden away in the very middle, so unable to be detected. Hence, not really a good way of telling if they are ready. I would say go for it right now and not wait any longer. Just do one and see if they are the size you want. And do let us know. I will be reporting back on my thoughts re this technique, once we've harvested them all.

[bigpepperplant]

good luck with your harvesting. I couldn't wait and uptipped my grow bags in the polytunnel a couple of weeks ago. The harvest was rather depressing - about seven potatoes in each bag! That'll teach me to only put one potato (Noisette) in each. Next year I'll go for at least four and wait longer. Would be interested to know what your yield is...

[David]

I havnt forgotten you - just depressed.

I opened a little window in the bag and took a look, all there was was a mass of roots and a few marbles.

I'm going to leave them a couple of weeks longer I think, I put 4 seed spuds in there so there has to be something.

David

[Chez]

Oh David, don't be too disappointed re the fact you could only see 'marbles'. There will be more mature ones (ours were 2-3") right in the middle where you can't see them. That's why I suggested you empty bag and use what's there. If you wait until the outside small ones are a decent size, the ones in the middle will end up much larger. You may want this, of course.

We have found the yield disappointing thus far too, but there may be other reasons for this. I am reserving final judgment until they are all harvested.

[David]

Thanks Chez, I'll upend one of the bags tonight then - I'm trusting you!

Let you know what happens.

D

[skip]

I also tried planting in half grow bags this year ... I did 3 1/2 bags of Home guard earlies, & then found a few red Desiree spuds with shoots on left in my 'eating bag' so put those in another couple of 1/2's.

It'll be 10 weeks this coming w/e that they have been in - the Desiree's seem to be flowering but the home guard are not, & when I feel the bags there seems to be nothing in there but roots.

I've never grown home guard before .... do I leave them longer than 10 weeks & try feeding??

[sandersj89]

Have a root around in the bag with your hand to try and feel the spuds.

I have grown Home Guard in the past, nice spud. They were ready at around 12 weeks for me.

Jerry

[Zena]

We dug our first spuds today - Duke of York's. A variety of sizes, but all absolutely perfect! not a sign or slug or worm damage on a single one - heaven

[David]

Well I finally found the time and courage to empty out one of the bags and to my delight there were 2lbs of spuds in there!

They are Foremost and I planted four tubers per half bag in the greenhouse, the foliage was over three feet high with many branches. I have kept them watered and fed with liquid organic seaweed.

Most of the tubers are quite white and about hens egg size, but there were two much bigger right at the bottom but they have dark brown skins - I dont know if anyone knows why this is?

I'll be eating them tonight.........

Thanks for all your advice and support

David

[sandersj89]

Dont eat the dark brown ones, they are the seed spuds you planted. Hate to think what they may taste like!!

Enjoy!

Jerry

[Trevor Holloway]

They are actually quite disgusting - not a mistake you make twice !

[Chez]

Hello David - that's a relief, after me telling you to go for it. We are on to our Foremost now too. They are very white, but have a real potato flavour we find. Especially when compared to Swift. I will post in more detail a bit later on re our container results this year. Enjoy!

[Tigger]

We've been eating Red Duke of York and White Duke of York for the last few weeks - from our tunnels - excellent - about to get the first of our earlies from outside.

Up to now, still prefer Red D of Y.

[Happymouse]

My Dad always dug up his potatoes when all the leaves had turned yellow. This tip has helped me a lot as I have always been hopeless at keeping records of when I planted mine. Only one of my pots has yellow leaves so far so I lifted the plant out, pulled off the big potatoes and replanted it in the pot to see if the small ones will get bigger.