I am growing charlotte potatoes in 11 litre bags on my patio, from
Gardener's World magazine offer, and on the face of it they are doing
really well. But how do I know when they are ready to harvest?

The green part of the plant above the soil is growing vigorously, and is
getting higher every day.

Thanks for any help and advice.

On 02/06/2017 11:19, Yellow wrote:
I am growing charlotte potatoes in 11 litre bags on my patio, from
Gardener's World magazine offer, and on the face of it they are doing
really well. But how do I know when they are ready to harvest?

The green part of the plant above the soil is growing vigorously, and is
getting higher every day.

Thanks for any help and advice.


When the tops start to die off.

Mike

On 02/06/2017 12:21, Muddymike wrote:
On 02/06/2017 11:19, Yellow wrote:
I am growing charlotte potatoes in 11 litre bags on my patio, from
Gardener's World magazine offer, and on the face of it they are doing
really well. But how do I know when they are ready to harvest?

The green part of the plant above the soil is growing vigorously, and is
getting higher every day.

Thanks for any help and advice.

When the tops start to die off.

Though if you don't mind not having maximum yield you will have some
smaller potatoes from about the time the first flowers are fruiting.
They get bigger and more of them the longer you let them grow.

I prefer fresh new potatoes to maximum possible weight of crop so always
dig some up for this reason as soon as they are available.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On 02/06/17 14:32, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Fri, 2 Jun 2017 12:24:21 +0100, Martin Brown
wrote:

On 02/06/2017 12:21, Muddymike wrote:
On 02/06/2017 11:19, Yellow wrote:
I am growing charlotte potatoes in 11 litre bags on my patio, from
Gardener's World magazine offer, and on the face of it they are doing
really well. But how do I know when they are ready to harvest?

The green part of the plant above the soil is growing vigorously, and is
getting higher every day.

Thanks for any help and advice.

When the tops start to die off.

Though if you don't mind not having maximum yield you will have some
smaller potatoes from about the time the first flowers are fruiting.
They get bigger and more of them the longer you let them grow.

I prefer fresh new potatoes to maximum possible weight of crop so always
dig some up for this reason as soon as they are available.

I know nothing about growing spuds, but shouldn't the OP be earthing
them up to increase the yield (assuming there's room in his bags) and
perhaps spraying against blight every so often? Or don't amateurs
worry about those sorts of things (I know my farmer-neighbour sprays
his fields of spuds regularly at about this time)?

He could always register with Bligh****ch if he's concerned.

--

Jeff

On 2 Jun 2017 11:19, Yellow wrote:
I am growing charlotte potatoes in 11 litre bags on my patio, from
Gardener's World magazine offer, and on the face of it they are doing
really well. But how do I know when they are ready to harvest?

The green part of the plant above the soil is growing vigorously, and is
getting higher every day.

Thanks for any help and advice.

Always say between 10 and 12 weeks from planting if you want new
potatoes. Scrape some soil away and see what's there.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden

In article ,
says...

On Fri, 2 Jun 2017 12:24:21 +0100, Martin Brown
wrote:

On 02/06/2017 12:21, Muddymike wrote:
On 02/06/2017 11:19, Yellow wrote:
I am growing charlotte potatoes in 11 litre bags on my patio, from
Gardener's World magazine offer, and on the face of it they are doing
really well. But how do I know when they are ready to harvest?

The green part of the plant above the soil is growing vigorously, and is
getting higher every day.

Thanks for any help and advice.

When the tops start to die off.

Though if you don't mind not having maximum yield you will have some
smaller potatoes from about the time the first flowers are fruiting.
They get bigger and more of them the longer you let them grow.

I prefer fresh new potatoes to maximum possible weight of crop so always
dig some up for this reason as soon as they are available.

I know nothing about growing spuds, but shouldn't the OP be earthing
them up to increase the yield (assuming there's room in his bags)

Not according to the instructions and also because an 11 litre bag is
just not big enough. The bag is filled with compost right to the top and
then the seed potato is pushed into the middle.

Thompson and Morgan, who supplied the kit, state that their tests show
that this method, with small bags and no earthing up, produces the most
potatoes.

and
perhaps spraying against blight every so often? Or don't amateurs
worry about those sorts of things (I know my farmer-neighbour sprays
his fields of spuds regularly at about this time)?

I don't know what blight looks like, but the greenery at least is all
looking bushy and healthy.

In article , says...

On 2 Jun 2017 11:19, Yellow wrote:
I am growing charlotte potatoes in 11 litre bags on my patio, from
Gardener's World magazine offer, and on the face of it they are doing
really well. But how do I know when they are ready to harvest?

The green part of the plant above the soil is growing vigorously, and is
getting higher every day.

Thanks for any help and advice.

Always say between 10 and 12 weeks from planting if you want new
potatoes. Scrape some soil away and see what's there.

I'd had not thought to do that, but an excellent idea. But as it has not
been 10 or 12 weeks since I planted them, I will leave it a bit longer.

In article ,
says...

On 02/06/2017 12:21, Muddymike wrote:
On 02/06/2017 11:19, Yellow wrote:
I am growing charlotte potatoes in 11 litre bags on my patio, from
Gardener's World magazine offer, and on the face of it they are doing
really well. But how do I know when they are ready to harvest?

The green part of the plant above the soil is growing vigorously, and is
getting higher every day.

Thanks for any help and advice.

When the tops start to die off.

Though if you don't mind not having maximum yield you will have some
smaller potatoes from about the time the first flowers are fruiting.
They get bigger and more of them the longer you let them grow.

I don't have any flowers yet so it sounds like I need to leave it a bit
longer yet.


I prefer fresh new potatoes to maximum possible weight of crop so always
dig some up for this reason as soon as they are available.

I have 5 of these plants so will take your advice.

In article ,
says...

On 02/06/2017 11:19, Yellow wrote:
I am growing charlotte potatoes in 11 litre bags on my patio, from
Gardener's World magazine offer, and on the face of it they are doing
really well. But how do I know when they are ready to harvest?

The green part of the plant above the soil is growing vigorously, and is
getting higher every day.

Thanks for any help and advice.


When the tops start to die off.

Mike

Thanks!

In article ,
lid says...

In article ,
says...

On 02/06/2017 11:19, Yellow wrote:
I am growing charlotte potatoes in 11 litre bags on my patio, from
Gardener's World magazine offer, and on the face of it they are doing
really well. But how do I know when they are ready to harvest?

The green part of the plant above the soil is growing vigorously, and is
getting higher every day.

Thanks for any help and advice.


When the tops start to die off.

Mike

Thanks!

That's for a main crop. I want to eat those tender tasty little new
postatoes and the sign they are forming, is when the plant has its
flower open.

You don't need to pull it up to see if it's ready yet; just push your
hand in the soil below the stems and fossick about.

Janet.

Chris Hogg wrote:

I know nothing about growing spuds, but shouldn't the OP be earthing
them up to increase the yield (assuming there's room in his bags)

Not that important for earlies once frost has passed.

and perhaps spraying against blight every so often? Or don't amateurs
worry about those sorts of things

Again, not really for earlies.

Peter