In message , David in Normandy
writes
June Hughes wrote:

Oh. I think mine are main crop but thought you had to wait until
they had finished flowering? I may be wrong and can't remember where
the info came from.

I've heard that too, but take the view that if they are big enough to
eat then do so; cheaper than buying new potatoes. I suppose it depends
on how many you've planted as to whether you can "waste" a few by
digging them up before they are full size. I've got more than 300
plants so I can dig as soon as possible. The biggest chore is digging
them up, especially if the ground bakes hard, it has a lot of clay in
it. I probably won't get around to lifting the last of them until the
tops have completely died off. Trouble then is finding where to dig
without impaling some.

In my usual wimpish way, I have planted mine in buckets and one large
container about a metre high, so shall wait for a little while. The
plants extend about 2 feet above the edge of the buckets now, so there
should be plenty of potatoes when they are ready - I hope.
--
June Hughes