[peapod]

Ive had a few popping up here and there, they aren't in the way of anything and I couldn't bring myself to pull them out! (all seed spuds from T&M and Wilkos in previous years, Ive never planted supermarket spuds)

Anyone left theirs in for a possible surprise this year?

[mike1987]

ive had a few growing up along a fence according to the guy on the plot next to mine there has been nothing grown on my plot for at least 10 years mabey more so we are all supprised to see about 20 plants growing. i have left them in to see what happens but at the first sign of blight or any other broblem they will be dug up and burned

[8doubles]

At the end of last season i weeded out a 9" high single stem volunteer plant and there hanging from the root was a single perfect 3" potato.
I was suprised that such a small plant could produce a decent tater.

[pairofacres]

I don't grow or eat spuds myself, as I'm stuck on a low GI diet, but had half a dozen plants appear on my plot from the previous tenants leftovers. Managed to harvest about a dozen marble to golf ball sized spuds, which went from plot to potato salad with fresh chives in about 30 minutes. Was one of the best dishes I've had off the plot so far 

[peapod]

fresh potato salad, its absolutely to die for 

[DD.]

I don't like to encourage volunteers, but one of my best crop of PFA spuds was a couple of years ago from a couple of plants that grew in my peas and I couldn't get out without sacrifing some pea plants.



I'm currently nurturing a plant that's popped up behind the greenhouse at home, as it's out of harm's way, I'm letting it live. No idea what it is.

[peapod]

Nice!

Get a pic of the other plant DD, we can guess the veg 

[DD.]

Here you go:

[peapod]

Oh I see, a spud plant.. Its guess the variety 

[DD.]

I suppose I should have been more specific in my last post!

[Maxine Groobey]

Well I have grown spuds in all of my raised beds ( due to rotation) and now can't get rid of them! Get a v small yield from them but they are more annoying than anything else as the new crops will be fighting for space and nutrients! Read one post that said to always dig over again a couple of days later to lift stragglers growing them in bags this year

[Ivor Backache]

I agree Maxine. I treat them as weeds.
And DD: You have nice tomatoes making their way in the world and some lettuce just getting established and there is this large potato plant in the middle and you are giving it preference! You are getting soft in your (old) age.

[missycat]

Today I dug up 5 of my earlies, the yield was poor 2.5kg so 500g per plant
I also dug up 2 volunteers from my raspberry bed, yielding1.7 kg so 850g per plant
Don't know why I bothered with all the earthing up...perhaps I should just throw a load of spuds into next years bed now and forget about them

[DD.]

I agree Maxine. I treat them as weeds.
And DD: You have nice tomatoes making their way in the world and some lettuce just getting established and there is this large potato plant in the middle and you are giving it preference! You are getting soft in your (old) age.

It'll be out before they're ready!