[Spana]

Due to both of us being away from home for a couple of weeks this month I still have a lot of earlies in the ground.  I only grow earlies because i have a slug problem if potatoes are in the ground any longer than about now
So can i dig them all up and store in hessian sacks like main crop after drying or would they be better left in the ground and take a chance that we eat them before they are ruined by slugs
The tops are starting to die down.

Thanks

[Aunt Sally]

Leave them in the ground as long as possible to mature and dry off well in the sun after lifting.  The skins will be stronger then.

We store our first earlies for a while.  They should be fine while you're away.

[superplanty]

I grew Pentland Javelin last year. Left them until mature. Harvested in July. Washed, dried and placed in hessian sacks in the cellar. They kept until December before  they started to sprout. Should be okay.

[madcat]

I did the same and because they were loaded in the shed on a first in, last out basis  it was March before we found them.  They were fine .... I guess it was helped by the spring being sooooo cold for so long ... they were (just) frost free during the snow.  Once the weather warmed up they were off ... so eat up by then.   

[DavidT]

If you want to keep them as " new " potatoes, once they have dried, store them in boxes. Layered in dry peat.

[Spana]

Thanks everyone thats a big help.  We'll never eat them all now before the slugs get to them so  I'll get digging   It will be good to try for other years.  If they store well next year I can grow a double lot of earlies  and store them. Very useful info, thanks.