[Snoop]

We're still getting through our first earlies (Dunluce), but the foliage on my second earlies (Charlottes) has died back. The main crop (Picasso) are still going strong. The Charlottes and Picasso were both planted on 10 April, so it would seem a bit early for the Charlottes. I was a bit worried they had some disease, but seeing as the Picassos are still perky and vibrant, I guess their time is up rather than that.

What would you do: dig up all the Charlottes and store them or dig them up as required? I've got about 45 or so plants. I don't need the ground for a follow-on crop, but I've noticed that some of the Dunluce I've dug up recently have minor damage (very small black holes at the edges extending inwards for a millimetre at most).

Thanks for any advice.

[Lardman]

Lift as required.

The back holes are probably slug damage, you'll need to keep an eye on things otherwise they'll turn you crop to Swiss cheese.

[solway cropper]

As Charlottes are a salad potato I usually lift them quite small and as required. Picasso I'd leave as long as possible unless you are desperate for spuds. I got some lovely bakers from my Picassos last year.

Unless you have a problem with slug pellets I'd sprinkle some along the rows to keep the slimy beasts off your crop.

[Beetroot Queen]

We lift as we want them.

[mumofstig]

We lift as we want them.

Same here, until the Autumn weather arrives.
I try to get any remaining 2nds and the maincrops up for storage before the soil gets too wet.

[Snoop]

Thanks for the advice. So I'll leave them be.

The foliage is pretty well dead but at this time of year it gets quite hot during the day and the soil will get baking hot and very hard. Do I carry on watering them or just water the plant I want to dig up a bit in advance so I can actually get the fork in the ground?

[mumofstig]

Oh! never thought that would be a problem 

Dig them up in batches then, if you have to water just to get them out of the ground 

[Snoop]

Thanks MoS. So, don't water but do so in batches of a few plants at a time to dig them up.

It occurred to me after my original post that not only will they be difficult to dig up if I don't keep them watered but that the potatoes might get a bit hot in the ground because there's no leaf cover for shade (apart from that provided by weeds...) and that they might bake just like in an oven.

As an aside, I had three Dunluce planted in the same spot and decided to dig them up just to see what they and the digging were like. The potatoes themselves are in much better condition than my full patch of Dunluce, so they obviously haven't suffered so far. But digging them up was quite hard work. I was glad not to have to dig up five plants, for example.

[Spr0ut]

I'd never thought of growing jacket potatoes - that could save some time in the kitchen!

[Snoop]

I'd never thought of growing jacket potatoes - that could save some time in the kitchen!

 

Actually, I might see if I can get hold of some hay to give them a bit of protection against the sun, though it will provide a refuge for slugs and snails. Swings and roundabouts I guess.