[RogerTheRef]

I am a complete newbie and and have had an allotment since June this year.  I have sowed some potatoes (Carlingford) and to my amazement I got lots of lovely plant thingies growing.  I was advised that once they finish flowering I should cut the stems off so that any blight does not go into the potatoes themselves, which I duly did about a week ago.

Ever since then in Essex we have had rain, rain and more rain, and the ground (clay) is quite soggy.  My question is, when should I harvest and is there anything to be gained by leaving them in the ground.

Many thanks...

[bigben]

I used to always grow my spuds in sacks before I got an allotment. This year I went mad and planted loads in the ground. I have been digging them out as I needed them but noticed the earlier ones had less holes than the ones I dug up later in the season. I dug up all those left at the start of September.
I would get them out of the ground. They are just too much of a target of slugs, wireworm etc.

[GrannieAnnie]

I didn't plant my 2nd earlies until June, but I've just finished harvesting mine, some really really quite large!  Why don't you dig up a couple and see how they've done so far?

[Allotment Jon]

I did Cara this year and the packet said dig up in September / October.

I dug up a couple of plants in early September and they were fantastic with no holes. The batch I dug up last week was no here near as good and had quite a new holes in.

Even though the plants above ground still looked fine I would agree that the later you leave it the more holes you will have.

[aelf]

I would think about digging them all up as soon as we have a dry day so that they can dry off before being stored. The longer they are left in the ground, the more they will be damaged by slugs and other creepies.

[fatbelly]

I would agree that the later you leave it the more holes you will have.

I would agree with this , I lifted some of my Wilja in early September and they had very few holes and I lifted the rest over the weekend and the number affected by slugs greatly increased. The wet weather encourages the slugs.

Next season I will lift all by mid September

[Aunt Sally]

I did Cara this year and the packet said dig up in September / October.

I dug up a couple of plants in early September and they were fantastic with no holes. The batch I dug up last week was no here near as good and had quite a new holes in.

Even though the plants above ground still looked fine I would agree that the later you leave it the more holes you will have.

I've found with Cara that as they are a late maturing variety the skins on mine are not set yet so they will not store well.  I'll keep an eye on them and dug them upwhen they are stronger.