[MickyB]

Just a quick question on spuds....

My first earlies are as big as I want them to get and I still have two and a half rows to go and my second earlies to follow, what would be the best way to go with them - If I dig them out how long will they store in brown bags,  can I cut the tops off and leave them in the ground?

[BabbyAnn]

You can dig them up, dry the skin (to prevent risk of rot as you would for maincrop) and store in a cool dark place for several weeks.  Of course, they won't taste the same as newly dug up potatoes as the carbohydrates change during storage.

If leaving them in the ground, I wouldn't bother chopping the tops off as they'll die back soon enough, but then I do like my potatoes a bit on the big side ....

[RookieJim]

I put my PJ in a hessian bag and they're quite happy in a cupboard in the hall.

Jim

[MickyB]

Thanks for the tips

Whilst I have the extra spuds I think I might experiment a little - try and store some, leave some in the ground and see which option suits me the best.

I was led to believe that the earlies just did not keep any longer than a few days.

[DD.]

Earlies dug as "new" potaotoes, i.e. before maturity, will not keep very long. If left to mature they will store for months.

Some plot holders on our site grow them purely for storing as they have a good chance of getting them out before blight appears.

[Willow_Warren]

I've grown too many first earlier (I blame the supplier for the size of pack  ), this is not helped my discovering my OH doesn't like boiled potatoes    I do though, so perhaps plenty on the menu for next week - oh... and potato salad 

Hannah

[Beetroot queen]

Earlies dug as "new" potaotoes, i.e. before maturity, will not keep very long. If left to mature they will store for months.

Some plot holders on our site grow them purely for storing as they have a good chance of getting them out before blight appears.

Thanks DD i didnt know this. Always learning 

[DD.]

And I didn't know I can't spell "potatoes"! 

[Tom Hill]

I like my new potatoes boiled then fried.  Absolutely delicious.

[MickyB]

What would denote a mature early? When the foliage dies back?
Is there a difference in taste if left to mature or is it just that they get bigger?
Sorry if the questions seem a bit daft, I am a total newbie....and also daft to start with 

[Buddleja]

What would denote a mature early? When the foliage dies back?
Is there a difference in taste if left to mature or is it just that they get bigger?
Sorry if the questions seem a bit daft, I am a total newbie....and also daft to start with 

This is all new to me too and I'm wondering when to pick my first earlies. I rootled about under one plant yesterday and found about 6 potatoes but I assume there wil be more when they are ready to dig?

[DD.]

A potato will be mature when the foiiage starts to die back. They will not get any bigger after this, but left un til this stage you won't get the "new" taste.

You won't get any more spuds than there are now by leaving them, but they will get bigger.

[Willow_Warren]

I wonder if I've missed the "new" stage on my Lady Christls???  The foliage seems to be dying back.

Has anyone ever staggered the sowing of first earlies to get a more even and constant supply of "new" potatoes?

Don't know where I'm going to grow them next year, half my small plot is decicated to poatoes this year and almost half was last year (but less organised) so I don't have anywhere for next year whilst allowing for a two year gap

Hannah

Edited "Chrystal" to correct spelling for search purposes

[DD.]

When did you plant them Hannah?

Mine went in on 15th April and are just the biz at the moment.

[Willow_Warren]

When did you plant them Hannah?

Mine went in on 15th April and are just the biz at the moment.

Mine went in on the 8th April, they were lovely last weekend, but a lot of the foliage seems to have fallen over and gone brown in the last week. All other rows of potatoes stills look good.

Hannah