[Size66]

what is the score here, do they get a certain size? look different? or do i dig one up - prob is i havent got many

[Beanzie]

If they are earlies you should be ok once the potato flowers appear. However, a fool proof method is carefully scrape away some of the soil in the potato ridge and look for the potatoes. If they are big enough pull them off, if not then simply replace the soil and try again next week

[supersprout]

I'm not growing many either, so do what beanzie suggests and have a furtle. I have 14 plants in two rows of seven, east to west, planted at the same time. The ones on the south side are ready now; the ones on the north side are about three weeks behind them :shock:  :roll:

[twysted1]

i dug up my spuds the other day as the plants were looking rather sad(lack of water i think) from 7 plants i got about 8kg of lovely new potatoes which were all between the size of a large cherry tomato and an extra large plum all except for one potato that was as big as my fist and i don't have small hands, i thought this was quite odd but it tasted just fine.

[GrannieAnnie]

It always puzzles me why some potatoes on the same root get large and others are like peas!!!  Mind you the dog douesn't complain, he gets to eat all the little ones!!!  Raw or cooked, she doesn't care!!!

[Jake]

I harvested a few potatoes today. The second earlies were better than the earlies :shock: Don't know why they grew so quick.

I've got loads of spuds so just plucking a few out won't hurt. I think.

[mellowmick]

Went up to the plot last night after work; perspex sheet covering half the roof was shattered and lying inside in bits. Main front panel blown in, knocking over 6 large tomato plants, which were lying on their sides, having shed a number of flowers. Hadn't realised that the wind had been that strong. Inside it looked like it had been in a tumble dryer. Got it looking ship-shape in a couple of hours and nothing looks that traumatised that they won't eventually recover, but must have lost over a dozen potential toms. Needed cheering up, so headed for my just-flowering Duke of Yorks, dug one up and treated myself to 11 lovely new potatoes for my tea.
See allotments; they can knock you down, then bring you right back up again.

[GrannieAnnie]

Awww, sorry about your toms and roof mick, but glad you had some nice spuds to cheer you up!!!

[Chris & Yasmin]

We dug up some earlies last Sunday.  It was my first ever year of growing potatoes and I was so excited!  It was just like searching for gold!
And of course they tasted gorgeous.

Yasmin

[Novice]

Agree with you mellowmick...I quite often head for The Duke of York when I need a bit of cheering up

[mellowmick]

The grand old jokes are the best  

[rugbymad40]

Hi Mick,

Just had a peek at the picture you posted - what a stunning view and I thought we were lucky in Surrey!
Good luck for the season - we are facing a drought order so we need to make the most of things while we can this year.
Rugbymad

[mellowmick]

Cheers.

Its great in anything but a strong westerly. We're about 450ft up and there are allotments on the southern and western slopes. The kind of site you just KNOW that developers are looking at!

[Oliver]

The kind of site you just KNOW that developers are looking at!

Not many people seem to know that (certain types of) allotments are protected by law. so be alert and mount a campaign in plenty of time if anyone even THINKS about developing them ... basically, if allotments are not wanted then ... bye bye. But if they are well used and well cultivated that is a different story.

Some Councils seem to think it is not their business to provide pleasure for anyone

[mellowmick]

Hi Oliver,

Scots law is different and apparently our allotments have less legal protection than those down south.