[dmg]

I have 5 varieties of  first earlies and 2 maincrop. That are all planted within a week of each other and are going on for about 14/15 weeks old.
with the exception of the maris piper not one of the other varieties have grown since I earthed up about 4 weeks ago all are sitting only a foot high compared to everyone else's 3ft.
The maris pipers have also flowered and set fruit but haven't died back where as only a couple of the earlies are just flowering. The early potatoes have signs of blackleg but the stems are still all green.
Any help/insight appreciated

Dmg

[solway cropper]

Most folks harvest first earlies from 10-12 weeks so there should be plenty under there by now. That's why they call them new potatoes. Have a feel under the soil/compost and see. Height of haulms is dependent on variety and varies from about 1 foot to 4 foot. Not all potatoes flower and even those that do can be sporadic so not a good indicator of anything.

Maincrop will need  a few more weeks yet.

What sign of blackleg are yours showing?

[dmg]

Hi SC
The blackleg signs where on the leaves, they are all dying back but the stems where all fine.
I know about the maincrop not being ready yet but was surprised that it had flowered and set fruit at this stage

Dmg

[mumofstig]

They are dieing back because they are ready, if none of the stems are black/rotting at ground level.

[dmg]

Thanks mum,
I will start to lift a few. The reason I thought it was blackleg was the foliage was dying back from several weeks ago and some that I had lifted did have the odd mushy one

[mumofstig]

The potato you planted goes mushy - so that may explain the ones you've been finding - let's hope so