![]() They can be used throughout the winter months but do check the bags for any damaged potatoes and be sure to remove them. Maincrop potatoes can be stored in hessian or paper sacks and placed in a cool, dry and dark shed. It’s best to eat first and second earlies within a day or two of harvesting, although they can be kept up to about 7 days in a cool, dry and dark place. Maincrop potatoes are usually ready in September but again you can wait until November to lift them or wait until just before the first frosts. Remember you can leave them in the ground for further 2 weeks, rather than lift them all at the same time. With maincrop potatoes, wait until the stems have died down completely before lifting.Īs a guide, harvest first and second earlies 10-12 weeks after planting. If they are still very small then simply leave them for another week or two, in which time they will grow very quickly. It is however only an indication and so a test dig will reveal whether they have reached a size considered ready for harvesting. When the flowers appear on the shoots and stems of potato plants, it’s a sign that the potato tubers are maturing. However, the difference is thought to be quite negligible so it really all comes down to personal choice and preference. In theory, by removing the flower, the plant will divert more of its energy into the growing potatoes. There has always been some debate about whether the flowers of potato plants should be removed. Never eat green potatoes as they will contain solanine, which is quite toxic. They also need to be kept in the dark to prevent sprouting and greening. Ensure there are no damaged potatoes in your sacks because they will rot and affect all the other potatoes. They can be kept in dry hessian or paper sacks and stored in a cool, dry, frost-free shed for many months, which should see you through the winter. Maincrop potatoes will store for much longer periods due to their thicker skins and texture. Carefully use a garden fork and not a spade to unearth your potatoes. They will also taste dry and sometimes sweet. They are always best eaten within a day or two of lifting and will generally only keep in a cool, dry place for about 5-7 days.ĭespite many opinions and recommendations, all potatoes do not store well in a fridge or freezer and will lose their fresh taste. If they are left in the ground too long they will lose that fresh new potato taste as the skins begin to harden and thicken. Harvesting & Storageįirst and second earlies can be left in the ground until required but it’s not recommended to leave them beyond 2-3 weeks after their due harvest date. These are the varieties you will store throughout the winter months and so the skins need to be set first if they are going to last the winter. Leave the stems to die off completely before lifting. They should be ready for harvesting in about 15-20 weeks, which will be around mid-September onwards. Earthing up, feeding and checking for pests and diseases should also be a regular routine. They need a much longer growing period than first and second earlies and will need a little more care and attention during the growing season, especially with watering. Maincrop seed potatoes are best planted during April. The tubers will need water in order to expand but it’s always best to give them a good soaking once or twice a week rather than a light watering every day. It’s important to remember to water both earlies and second earlies during dry periods. A test dig will reveal whether they are a good size and ready for lifting. Again, and as for first earlies, they will not be ready for harvesting until they have at least finished flowering. They are generally planted around late April and should be ready for harvesting about 10-12 weeks later. Planting second early potatoes is a good way of extending the new potato crop for a few more weeks and possibly right up until the end of August. (The variety shown in the video and the photographs below is Arran Pilot.) Second Earlies It’s amazing the difference a week can make. They will not increase tuber quantity, but the tubers already there will increase in size. Leave the rest to grow on for up to 2 weeks. Only harvest what you need for a couple of days at a time. Once the plants have finished flowering, try a test dig to see if they are of a useable size. There will be no sizeable tubers until the plants have finished flowering, so it’s not worth even thinking of lifting them until then. That should ensure a nice crop of fresh potatoes for early June and into July, just in time for summer salads. Weather conditions permitting, first early seed potatoes are planted between mid-March and mid-April and should be ready for harvesting after about 10-12 weeks. ![]()
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