[fatbelly]

Hi,
I have both First Earlies and Maincrop spuds in the lot and my Earlies are now in flower.

Is there a time scale in weeks of when Earlies and Main Crops should be harvested after planting? Thanks FB

[mikem]

I know that others may give different timescales but roughly:-

1st earlies should be ready 14-15 weeks after planting
2nd earlies should be ready 15-17 weeks after planting
Maincrop should be ready 17-20 weeks after planting

[Yorkie]

On the seed potato bag i've got from JBA spuds:

first earlies 10-12 weeks
second earlies 13-15 weeks
main crops 15-22 weeks

[joyfull]

looks like it's just a case of putting your hand in and having a furtle around to see if they are big enough (I know this sounds rude but couldn't think of another way of putting it  )

[shaun]

get the fork under them is the only way to find out,I have been digging mine for a few weeks now with no flowers at all 

[Penfold]

OK I've "furtled" (yes I am a consenting adult) and the potatoes are there, about the size of an avocado so I'll pick me first home grown spuds tomorrow.

This will sound daft but other than cleaning them should I do anything else before eating (other than cooking them of course)...?

cheers

[Kristen]

Just boil or steam.  Don't peel (wash off any earth).  Add butter etc. to taste!

[BazTheGardener]

Be careful when boiling them as new pots don’t take as near long as shop bought ones, in my experience. Otherwise you end up with split pots or mush.

Looking forward to mine but I was late planting as only got plot mid April.
 

[Kagganz]

Be careful when boiling them as new pots don’t take as near long as shop bought ones, in my experience. Otherwise you end up with split pots or mush.

Looking forward to mine but I was late planting as only got plot mid April.
 

I steam mine      yum yum xx

[sheridal]

Just wondered, how long once earlies are ready can we leave them in the ground??? I don't want to use them all up straight away, but also what happens if I leave them in the ground too long.

[Yorkie]

I left Charlottes in the ground until the following March 

Some had been attacked by slugs, others were fine.

[barbarella]

Yet another variation - just checked in a Kitchen Garden giveaway booklet and it says
Earlies 12 - 13 weeks
Maincrop 20-22 weeks

My earlies (Charlotte and Kestrel) planted on 31 March aren't flowering while my maincrops (Sarpo Axona and Mira) planted 4 April are flowering away like mad - strange.

The rain we are having now will be great for the earlies, so I will wait a week or so before trying them.  I am desperate for some space though to put in a couple of squashes which are growing fast in their pots, so things are getting a bit tense - who said gardening was a restful occupation!

[crowndale]

I am waiting for space for another row of peas but probably have a couple of weeks before they outgrow their root trainers!  will be digging one row of spuds even if they are a bit tiddly coz got loads and love peas too!