Fruit and Vegetables

Re: potatoes

sue1002 — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:30:55 GMT

I think I've found the answer Debbielon, you first posted about this on 24th June and they had been planted about 8 weeks previously. Charlottes are usually ready for harvesting around 13 weeks from planting so the earliest they are likely to be ready for harvesting would be around 29th July. Now that the plants are flowering, give them plenty of water and you should have some in another couple of weeks

Re: potatoes

richardpeeej — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:59:46 GMT

Hi all, I am growing two tubs of potatoes there is plenty of top growth on both, but have not looked underneath the soil yet. I don't know the names of the potatoes as I planted 4 supermarket ones near the bottom of each tub when they started to sprout in the vegetable rack about 2 months ago! I'm hoping for something - as I have earthed them up to the top of the tubs about 2 weeks ago.

Re: potatoes

debbielon — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:37:41 GMT

Hi all we have left the potatoes until today again we have dug up another plant and there is nothing there, just roots. They are flowering but just seems nothing happening. Surely if we were going to get anything there would be little ones there! Could we have just got a bad lot of seed potatoes? Thanks.

Re: potatoes

hellyb — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:19:16 GMT

hello debbielon - hello all - new to this forum - found it on google searching for exactly the same problem !

I've planted Charlotte spuds and they have been looking fantastic - until last weekend when they all started falling over! I dont really know what to do or whats causing it but my advice is dont dig them up but harvest them while theyre still growing. I just fiddle around in the soil going from plant to plant to collect enough spuds for supper. You will probably find theyve already produced some good size tubers. I have to say I'm really impressed with the variety - they taste amazing and the ultra thin skin just rubs off. If you come across a tuber thats on the small side just leave it attached and bury it again. I did this last year with another variety and it kept going for ages.

good eating!

Re: potatoes

keefy — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:32:30 GMT

thanks boggy i might as well remove the flowers

Re: potatoes

keefy — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:30:06 GMT

thanks roger i'll give it a go

Re: potatoes

debbielon — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:12:44 GMT

Thanks Digger, Thanks Sue1002.

Re: potatoes

Digger — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:03:06 GMT

Ha ha, It can become an all consuming hobby! I wasn't sure how long charlotte takes but i felt sue1002, woukld be along with the proper answer for you, good luck

Re: potatoes

debbielon — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:50:52 GMT

Thats great thanks. My husband was very disappointed when he thought there was nothing there. We are getting a bit obsessed as he had a nightmare that somebody was pulling up his potatoes the other night

Re: potatoes

sue1002 — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:26:43 GMT

As digger says, 8 weeks after planting Charlotte's is a bit early to be ready for harvesting. Charlottes are a second early and usually ready for harvesting from around 13 weeks after planting.

Re: potatoes

Digger — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:20:08 GMT

I think eight weeks is a bit soon to expect much of a crop my stems are really tall at the moment, it may have something to do with the warm weather? anyway I'd leave them a while yet to grow some tubers on.

Re: potatoes

debbielon — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:09:13 GMT

Hi just wondering if anyone can help. We are new to growing veg and our potatoes are very tall to the point of falling over. We have been earthing up. They are Charlotte and have been in about 8 weeks. Someone told my husband that they are probably all stem and no potatoes so he dug one up and there was nothing on it. Is it too early yet or have we done something wrong?

Re: potatoes

Phot's-Moll — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:55:43 GMT

All my potato flowers dropped off without producing any fruits this year - presumably that means the plants aren't wasting any energy?

Re: potatoes

RogerBee — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:32:49 GMT

Thanks Boggy,

Always useful to know - especially as I'm growing Desiree (along with Juliette and Cara)

Re: potatoes

bogweevil — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:19:44 GMT

Research shows that there is a small gain in yield if flowers are removed. Clealry this is not practical on large scale unless you are very bored and have a very great deal of time on your hands(ie retired), but for a few tubs, you might as well.

Most potatoes have been bred to have few flowers, but some, Charlotte and Desiree for example, flower freely and removal of flowers will be more useful than in those cultivars that set few flowers.

Boggy