Purple Majesty potatoes - five weeks in the ground and flower buds forming!

Purple Majesty are apparently an early maincrop type of potatoe. I planted them five weeks ago about six inches down. I went to earth them up for the first time this morning (about 15 cm above ground), only to see that flower buds are already forming on quite a few of the plants.

Other info: of all my potato varieties, these have the smallest leaves and are also the least vigorous as regards height. A friend told me they needed more nutrients, but I've got two beds with mixed Dunluce and PMs and Rooster and PMs, and the Dunluce and Roosters in these beds look like all the others (growing fast, big leaves and vibrant green), so I don't think it's a nutrient problem. I presumed the PMs are simply smaller plants all round, but flowering at this stage makes me think there must be some kind of problem with them.

There's probably nothing I can do except nip the buds off and leave them as long as possible, but thought I'd ask in case anyone had any views or ideas.

That's interesting. The bag came with instructions for all maincrops - 18 to 22 weeks. I was expecting 18 weeks to harvest, not 12. Thanks, Ivor. Looks like we'll be eating them earlier than I thought.

For you info, I've not tried these before. A friend got them for me and insisted I plant them, as he says they make the best baked and roast potatoes he's ever had.

I grew them a couple of years ago quite heavy croppers but, in my soil anway, no great taste

He told me they're no great shakes boiled or steamed, but great when done in the oven or fried.

Out of interest, do you by any chance remember how long they took? After Ivor Backache suggested 85 days, I had a look around the internet and even came across one site suggesting 70 days, making them a first early (according to my veg growing books), not an early maincrop.

Don't remember actual time taken to mature, problem was that I didn't ever wish to grow them it was her who must be obeyed.      Lefted them thinking I could show they weren't worth growing and was quite surprised at the yield, short shaws neglected more than looked after in acid soil made worse with a top dressing of wood chips.

I grew these last year and didn't get a brilliant crop. I dug them up as maincrop.  Trying again this year and mine are growing just the same rate as the other maincrops I have in.

Discovered that while they taste just like a normal spud, purple mash is a bit off putting   Will try them roasted and baked this year