In message , Broadback
writes
June Hughes wrote:
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.
I've often wondered about that method, won't the largest spuds be at
the bottom of the tub? If so that would make piecemeal harvesting
vexing.

I haven't tried it before but one of the bins I have has round sliding
covers very near the bottom, on the sides, so theoretically I can dig
out potatoes from the bottom. I shall let you know how it goes when the
time comes The black rubber buckets won't be so easy.
--
June Hughes