[Rich72]

Hi all.

Im new to this growing veg lark and am currently on a waiting list for an allotment. I decided this year to try and grow some potatoes in bags. They are a second early variety but I have received conflicting information regarding when to harvest. Some say harvest once plants have been in flower for 1 week, some say harvest after 12 weeks and others say wait until foliage starts to die down. Im so confused, please help

[crh75]

Second earlies tend to take about 13 weeks.  Personally I wait untill after the flowers have died down.

[Rich72]

I cant remember what they were called. A friend gave them to me because he bought too many. There are lots of flowers on them now some open and some still in bud. Should I just wait until they have completely stopped flowering or will they go on and on?

[mumofstig]

when they have been growing for 13 weeks, gently move the earth aside from the roots (have a furtle) and see what's there.
If the potatoes are all very small then recover to grow on. If they are a usuable size then lift and eat

[Ivor Backache]

If it helps Rich72, I am currently emptying buckets of Pentland Javelin (1st early) which vary from marbles to golf balls, but I am not too concerned about size. My 2nd early (charlotte) in conventional trenches are bigger.

Waiting for the foliiage to die down usually refers to main crop potatoes.

[Yorkie]

Don't forget that not all varieties flower anyway ...

There's a potato database (British Potato Council?) which tells you the specifics for each variety.

[sunshineband]

and second earlier if course take a bit longer to get to eating size than firsts.

Furtling about after 13-14 weeks will give the best idea if theye are the size you want, as MoS said)

Some people prefer to wait until they are larger, others want to eat them asap