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When are potatoes ready?
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14-12-2006, 06:26 AM
Mozie
Registered User
First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Oct 2005
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Posts: 31
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Farm1
"Mozie"
wrote in message
How do you tell if potatoes are ready to dig up? I have one bush
which
has started to flower, is that an indicator? Thanks
No, it isn't. Potatoes will flower for a long time before the
potatoes are ready to harvest.
There are two stages of potatoes, "new" potatoes which are harvested
while the tops are still green and growing actively and potatoes which
are harvested when the whole top turns brown and dies off - this is
the main crop.
To harvest "new" potatoes and still leave the tops to grow on and give
you the later main crop, you can just wiggle your hand down into the
soil and feel around for any spuds which are big enough to eat - this
is called bandicooting (after an Australian animal). If you want to
do bandicooting for new potatoes on a regular basis the easiest way to
do this is to grow your potatoes under hay or straw. Simply put the
potatoes on top of the soil and then put a foot layer of hay/straw,
top that with manure water well tehn put on another foot of hay/straw.
When the potoatoes break through and the hay has collapsed, keep
topping the hay up as the tops grow and the potoates will keep sending
out more spuds from the stem. This is an especially good (and lazy
no-dig) method for establishing a new bed as when the potatoes are
finished you have good compost and a very rich weed free spot for the
next crop.
Excellent advice! Thanks everyone!
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