I have tried growing potatoes for the first time and harvested the first ones today to find very few and very small potatoes.

I used proper seed potatoes from Dobbies, chitted them for about 4 weeks in the greenhouse, and they were planted out 11 weeks ago this weekend and the flowers have fully opened out. I have some in old compost bags and some in the ground. I tried one compost bag, with 2 plants in it, and one plant from the ground and had the same results. I think the problem may be one of the following and would appreciate some advice.

1. It is simply too early to lift them, despite the books saying 10-12 weeks and ready to harvest when the flowers are fully open.

2. The ones in the old compost bags, which were refilled and continually earthed up, with B&Q's Multipurpose compost have not had enough fertiliser or manure to produce a good crop. They have only had the B&Q Multipurpose compost and the fertiliser it contains.

3. The ones in the ground have not had enough manure or fertiliser. The area is about five square meters, first time cultivated, and I used the top soil which was turned over, some home made compost and mixed in a bag of farmyard maure from Focus. The bag was about 50 litres and cost about £3.99. I earthed them up with home made compost.

4. A combination of the above, too early and not enough fertiliser.

Axel

In article ,
axelbrora wrote:

I have tried growing potatoes for the first time and harvested the first
ones today to find very few and very small potatoes.

1. It is simply too early to lift them, despite the books saying 10-12
weeks and ready to harvest when the flowers are fully open.

Such guidelines are all very well in 'average' years, but this has
not been one. There was the odd, short warm spell early on, but
otherwise it remained cold until mid-June. Then there was some
definitely hot weather.

Potatoes do not grow well in cold or dry conditions, and the flowers
are probably triggered by heat or sunshine. Which explains the
effect you have seen.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Nick,

Many thanks for the reply.

Any comments on point 2 & 3 regarding the fertiliser?

Axel

In article , axelbrora axelbrora.1
writes

I have tried growing potatoes for the first time and harvested the first
ones today to find very few and very small potatoes.

I used proper seed potatoes from Dobbies, chitted them for about 4
weeks in the greenhouse, and they were planted out 11 weeks ago this
weekend and the flowers have fully opened out. I have some in old
compost bags and some in the ground. I tried one compost bag, with 2
plants in it, and one plant from the ground and had the same results.
I think the problem may be one of the following and would appreciate
some advice.

It's simply too early. Best to feel around in the soil for one or two
potatoes to check for size, rather than harvest the whole lot.

I don't grow potatoes, merely let them appear in the garden, and they
certainly don't get any fertiliser, but still grow large.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"