Potato - dig or leave?

loubylou29 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 10, 2008, 13:44 »

don't the slugs like new pots then???

Thanks Aidy, I knew there was an answer!

Aidy · « **Reply #16 on:** July 10, 2008, 14:51 »

So far touch wood, never had a problem with slugs of any nature, the worst enemy is the weather if it is really wet.

Aidy · « **Reply #17 on:** July 10, 2008, 14:52 »

Quote from: "littlelisa"

Quote from: "Aidy"
Ginger Dave, you cut the foliage to stop the spuds from growing (earlies only), this then acts as a clamp, the spuds are happy to sit in the ground. Littlelisa, this very much depends on the weather and your soil conditions, last year I left my earlies until feb and was still eating them, we had a stack of rain so I lifted them to stop the rot.

Soooo helpful, thanks Aidy! Why earlies only? This doesn't work for maincrop potatoes?

With maincrop you can dig them and store them as the skins are so much thicker unlike the earlies.

slowcompost · « **Reply #18 on:** July 10, 2008, 16:48 »

Your right to get them up asap unless your plot is slug free. It may be less of a problem on very light soil, but generally I find slugs are the biggest problem with potatos. Apart from blight that is.

gobs · « **Reply #19 on:** July 10, 2008, 19:04 »

Yes, don't forget Aidy has sandy soil, better don't try this on clay.

susie · « **Reply #20 on:** July 10, 2008, 20:28 »

can you do this with mids as well? We have Kestrel which look ready to take up, but still got earlies in the plot, and no room for storage, but got clay soil.

SnooziSuzi · « **Reply #21 on:** July 11, 2008, 08:06 »

well I just couldn't wait any longer for my maincrop last night and dug one up before it had flowered - didn't see much difference from if I had waited a couple more weeks and besides, there's plenty more where that one came from!

I'll leave the others in to grow bigger though

Sadgit · « **Reply #22 on:** July 11, 2008, 14:35 »

Quote from: "SnooziSuzi"

well I just couldn't wait any longer for my maincrop last night and dug one up before it had flowered - didn't see much difference from if I had waited a couple more weeks and besides, there's plenty more where that one came from!

I'll leave the others in to grow bigger though

unless they drown before then Suzi...... or been eaten by the millions of slugs with all this rain.

DD. · « **Reply #23 on:** July 11, 2008, 14:38 »

Quote from: "SnooziSuzi"

didn't see much difference from if I had waited a couple more weeks

Suzi - our resident forum psychic....... can see what size her spuds are going to be in two weeks!

Sadgit · « **Reply #24 on:** July 11, 2008, 14:40 »

Quote from: "DD."

Quote from: "SnooziSuzi"
didn't see much difference from if I had waited a couple more weeks

Suzi - our resident forum psychic....... can see what size her spuds are going to be in two weeks!

a woman you see... they are special creatures... :shock:

DD. · « **Reply #25 on:** July 11, 2008, 14:41 »

Quote from: "Sadgit"

a woman you see... they are special creatures... :shock:

Guess you're right. Mrs. DD. knows what I'm thinking, even before I've thought about thinking it.

Bombers · « **Reply #26 on:** July 11, 2008, 14:42 »

Quote from: "Sadgit"

Quote from: "DD."
Quote from: "SnooziSuzi"
didn't see much difference from if I had waited a couple more weeks

Suzi - our resident forum psychic....... can see what size her spuds are going to be in two weeks!

a woman you see... they are special creatures... :shock:

I bet she can dig em up with one hand, whilst washing them with the other you know!.. Think it's called multi taskin' or summat?

SnooziSuzi · « **Reply #27 on:** July 11, 2008, 19:55 »

you'd better believe it!

DD. · « **Reply #28 on:** July 11, 2008, 20:22 »

Lottery numbers for tomorrow Suzi?

Only tell me though - don't want to share it with too many!

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