[stephenandbeverley]

Hello all,

Was wondering if you could help with a problem, I have sown three rows of main crops and three rows of early potatoes, can't remember what the new potatoes are called but the main is King Edwards.

Anyway the problem is that I can't remember which rows are new and which rows are mains( really must learn to label things!  ) The leaves are up and all the rows are flowering, if I leave the news in will it cause problems? what should I do? I thought about digging up one plant and see what I have got there, based on when they were sown I should be able to dig up the new potatoes this weekend coming.

What are your thoughts?

Stephen

[Yorkie]

There will be no particular problems in leaving new potatoes in longer than the earliest harvesting date.  They'll taste less 'new potato' like but won't come to any particular harm in principle.

NB I've harvested Charlottes the following spring ... rather slug-eaten but otherwise OK (wouldn't recommend this as a strategy though).

[Elcie]

I have done exactly the same thing, and I did it last year too!  I am just going to leave mine in.  Means I won't get tasty new potatoes when small but they will still be edible.  I can't even remember the varieties I planted, so you are one up on me!

[PennyS]

You might be able to work it out from what the plants look like...
try here http://varieties.potato.org.uk/index_images.php%20?page_no=1

[Muddylou]

I've grown earlies (lady crystal), second earlies (kestrel) and lady Balfour's for mains. Planted on the same day, they're all beside each other and look like a green mini jungle now. I noticed the other day if you stand back and look at them long enough there is a difference in the leaf shape and a slight difference in the colour between the three. Perhaps the difference in yours will be evident with a bit of time.

[SUTTY1]

i'm with PennyS on this. Look at the flower colours , the site will tell you the colour of the king edwards, problem sorted unless earlies have same colour flower

[Paul Plots]

Now that doesn't help much does it!   

(Click the link above)

[stephenandbeverley]

Cheers guys,

I will see if i can tell them apart if not look like just lots of normal potatoes for me which is much better than I feared.

Thanks again all, your knowledge is very welcome and thanks for the links.

Stephen

[chimaera]

I would suggest go and ask other people who are growing pots and ask if you can pick a typical leaf and flower head of each variety to compare with what you have. There should be differences in leaf size and flower colour.

Charlie

[harry]

I took several different varieties in egg trays and dropped them mixing them up so i'm not going to worry about what is where. I'll just dig them and cook them