Main Crop Potatoes

[TheEssexYorkshireman]

Hi all.

The haulms on my main crop (Desiree) are completely dead and have all but disappeared. Is it now the time to dig them up? I believe I read somewhere that once the haulms are dead the potatoes stop growing, is that right?

This weekend would appear to be particularly conducive to havesting my spuds as the skins to set well in the sunshine.

Thanks
TEYman

[TheEssexYorkshireman]

[Trevor_D]

Mine are already lifted and stored. If you've got the time and the weather's right, dig them up.

[saddad]

Some advise leaving them for a couple of weeks... but I just find that increases slug damage...   :-\
I always try to have them lifted and stored by this weekend...  :)

[chriscross1966]

I'll be pulling out a biggish load this weekend but I do have some (the experiment in builders bags) that are still alive though starting to die off now.... might have to have a bit of a firkle in there to see what I've got..... If I don' lift them  this weekend it will be at least three weeks before I do.... and I've got that weekend pencilled in for the squash/pumpkin harvest.... I've got 50 assorted to come out and they're not all small ones so I'm guessing 100Kg of winter cucurbits.....

chrisc

[1066]

and there was me pottering along, unaware that I should / could crop all my main spuds! I've left mine in the ground after cutting back the foliage. So you all reckon its time they came out?
1066

[Duke Ellington]

We dug up all of ours last weekend and had some beauties!! There was very little slug damage but I wouldn't have wanted to leave them in much longer. They are now in storage:)

Duke

[caroline7758]

I planted some in what was a bramble patch. Unfortunately, due tomy neglect it has reverted to a bramble patch again, albeit not so bad. I'll be digging the spuds with thick gloves on this weekend to see whether they have produced much.

[TheEssexYorkshireman]

Thanks all this week end it is then!!

TEYman

[chriscross1966]

and there was me pottering along, unaware that I should / could crop all my main spuds! I've left mine in the ground after cutting back the foliage. So you all reckon its time they came out?
1066

Depends what the slug situation on your site is like I guess, I've been pretty clear this year but I don't see any reason in feeding the ones that have survived....

chrisc

[cornykev]

Get um out.    ;D ;D ;D

[1066]

Made a start on getting them out at the weekend (oo er  ::)) as per this thread. Just the Pink Fir to lift this week ....
So thanks for the timely post TEY !
1066

[TheEssexYorkshireman]

Well the weekend weather was glorious down here in Essex. Dug up my Desiree, not a bad crop but not as many as I'd hoped - 80lb from about 54 seed potatoes - so averaging 1.5lb per seed. All nicely dried off and in storage. Thanks for your help.

TEYman