[barremic]

Quick question, I've forgotten exactly when i planted my main crop spuds, but they are currently flowering and have shot up (in height) past my first earlies, which i have just started pulling up two weeks ago.

I am trying to make the earlies last a few weeks and get a bit bigger. (there are a few fine sized ones but also some quite small).

The main crop is flowering, and the 1st's has just stopped flowering?
The main crop is about 4-5 inches taller than the 1st's. any idea when the main crop may be ready, or shoud i just leave them there to keep growing and get bigger.

Thanks in advance

[michael brenock]

height of stalk is not a good guide,as the stalk grows the tubers develop at the same time but the tubers continue to develop as the stalks begin to die back. You can test dig a stalk from the side of the drill to see what size the tubers have reached. if you dig them too soon they will not have a great flavour. at present main crop potatoes would be only developing so leave them another 3-4 weeks for good yield and good flavour.
michael brenock Horticultural advisor (retired)

[barremic]

Thanks Michael,

I was worried that the plants had caught up so quickly with the earlies. But it will be at least 4 weeks before i am through them.

I had only ever grown earlies before.

I guess i will just have to be patient