"Secondary Growth" on Potatoes

[Rhys]

My King Edwards have put on secondary growth and are re-flowering now.

I remember reading in the papers a few weeks back that potato growers feared "secondary growth" which fills the tubers with water, apparently.

Should I dig them all up now and hope for the best?

[Rhys]

[saddad]

New one on me but my KED's have gone spindly and refuse to die back totally so I'm hoping for some re growth to bulk up the tubers as they are good for 6 weeks yet blight willing!
???

[Jill]

Yes.  I read that too, Rhys, but as I'm not growing potatoes this year I didn't read as far as what to do in the event.  Sorry.

[stuffed]

I shall keep an eye on this thread as my King Edwards seem to be doing the same :-\ :-\

[Paulines7]

I am still digging up early potatoes but some of them have started sprouting.  See post "Wat no arms" in Fun Photos. 

I think I ought to get them all up but will they store?

[saddad]

Reasonably well Pauline, rub any new sprouts off, keep in a cool dark place in paper or better hessian sacks... aim to have used them by Oct 1/2 term or Xmas at the latest
???

[Paulines7]

Thanks Saddad.  I will probably store them the same way as last year ie in polystyrene boxes covered with an old duvet in our shed.  The potatoes lasted right through last winter but they were later varieties, King Edwards and Pink Fir Apple. 

[Rhys]

I've had a closer look at the spuds this morning to find its the tubers in the ground that have sprouted and growing away :o

[ksia]

I've the same thing on my last row of earlies I've just started using. The top growth has died down but the spuds are sprouting! They tasted ok. I'm putting off taking up the full row till we've more sunshine...where's it gone?!

I'm thinking of putting some of these sprouting spuds in pots to get a winter greenhouse crop...the theory sounds ok to me...!

[supersprout]

yep, I've put my sprouters straight in 7" pots and will put in growbags for that elusive Xmas crop ;D