[beth123]

I've been told that as the foliage grows on my potatoes to just keep covering it with more soil but how do I know when they are ready to eat? This is my first attempt at growing my own and I'm clueless! 

[willnbirdie]

Hi

Depends on whether you are growing earlies or main crop.

Earlies are ready when the flowers open or drop off usually round about 13 weeks after planting - the cold start to the season could make this a little longer.

Maincrop potatoes usually take about 22 weeks give or take from planting and these are harvested the the foliage has turned brown and the stems have withered.

Hope this helps

willnbirdie

[New shoot]

You earth up - technical term for covering foliage with soil - but then leave the foliage to grow through, so don't keep burying your taters.

When you harvest depends on what you are growing.  If it's first earlies you can start having an exploratory dig when they start flowering for tiny new potatoes.  Generally you harvest in earnest once they have finished flowering, but for main crop potatoes some prefer to wait until the foliage is starting to die down to get the biggest taters they can.

Dig out your spud packets and post the names and I'm sure people will be able to give you much more specific advice 

[New shoot]

ooops sorry Willnbirdie - I think we both hit post together there 

[willnbirdie]

No worries New Shoot better to get the advice twice than not at all   

cheers

willnbirdie

[beth123]

Thanks for the advice.  I've got no flowers as of yet so I'll have to wait a while longer.

[DD.]

As we often mention, not all spuds flower, you could be waiting  long while for them to drop off if they don't!  What variety have you got?