Potato Questions

Caddi fuller-teabags · « **on:** May 25, 2008, 18:52 »

I have grown three varieties of potato this year.

The first I put in were the Maris pipers, of which I am so proud. I have earthed them up and they are growing well -about ten inches tall now (above the earthup) and bushy and, well, just lovely.

1. How will I know when to harvest them?
2 How do I get new potatoes and old potatoes from the same plant, or do I need different varieties for this? in which case which have I got?
3. How do I get seed potatoes from them?

The charlottes and pink fir tubers that I was given last week went straight in but are not showing yet, of course. I take it the answer as to when to harvest will be the same?

Ideally I would like to harvest some as new and some big jackety ones.

DD. · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2008, 19:04 »

Maris Piper is a main crop potato, probably what you would term 'old'. In this case you need the foiliage to start to die off before harvesting.

You do not get old & new potatoes from the same plant. You would need an early variety for 'new' spuds.

You can save these spuds as 'seed' potatoes for next year, but you run the risk of carrying any disease forward. Seed spuds sold as such are certified as disease free.

Charlotte are a second early and can be lifted as 'new' spuds, have a scratch around under the surface when they have flowered to see what's underneath.

Pink Fir are technically a main crop, but go well with salads etc., and I tend to lift a little early.

Yorkie · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2008, 19:28 »

Just a tip with the PFA spuds, in my experience they don't store well in the ground once they are ready to come up.

Charlottes, on the other hand, will happily sit there till you need the space.

Caddi fuller-teabags · « **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2008, 19:38 »

Thank you.

Caddi fuller-teabags · « **Reply #4 on:** May 25, 2008, 19:41 »

Sorry about the multiple posting - I got a strange error message and then this! I can't seem to delete them either

DD. · « **Reply #5 on:** May 25, 2008, 19:58 »

No probs - tidied up. Been having one or two problems like this.

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