[AndyArch]

Hi,

I have potatoes in bags and in the ground, the foliage on the ones in the bags (Charlotte and Red Duke of York) is starting to die off and I was wondering if it is best to harvest and store or cut the foliage back and leave them in the bags for a bit longer as we can only eat so many.

Also when the foliage starts to die on the ones in the ground (Estima and King Edward) shall I harvest or cut the foliage back and harvest later.

Thanks

Andy

[RJR_38]

In theory you can leave them in the ground for a long time - I have come across ones I have missed months later and they are still absolutely fine! However, the longer they are in the ground for the more prone they are to slugs... I dug all of mine up this weekend as all the foliage has been gone for about 2 weeks and I harvested loads of big spuds. There were a few (7 or 8 spuds maybe out of 35kg worth) that had been nibbled on and had woodlice making the most of the slugs initial work so I know I got them at just the right time.