Topic: Multicropping of First Early Potatoes

[Pink Fingers]

I'm tempted to have an exploratory little firkle (what a lovely word) tomorrow, so I'll let you know what I find.  ;D

[cornykev]

Hi Kepouros, instead of digging up the plant wouldn't it be easier to just firkle and take what spuds you need and cover back up with the soil, just a thought.  :-\     ???       ;D ;D ;D

[Kepouros]

If your ridges are like mine - about 15 inches wide at the base - you`ll be lucky to get near the ones in  the middle that way, and quite frankly I think you`d do far more damage to the tuber bearing stolons (which are far more brittle than a fibrous root) in trying than you would by carefully lifting the whole plant

[mummybunny]

Just remembered to check in on this post i have a small pot with one in so im going to give it a try with that one  ;D will let you know how i get on.

Thanks lucy

[mummybunny]

Well the outcome was FANTASTIC we had our very first home grown baby potatoes and they were the best i have ever tasted  ;D Even the kids  polished theirs off. Even had home grown mixed leaves and radish with our salad. Yummy
 
Bigs thumbs up now lets see how they get on now

 ;D

[thifasmom]

i had a firkle today in my bag and i can feel some aswell but will leave for another week or so as they all felt kinda small.

[AnnieD]

Looking for advice on when to harvest my earlies, and found this. Sounds very useful.

So I don't have to wait for them to flower? I planted Arran Pilot and Lady Christi on 30th March. So it's been 7 weeks.
They have good foliage growth but no flowers yet. How do I know when they are ready?

[Pescador]

Annie, the answer is in the posts above.

[Jayb]

Looking for advice on when to harvest my earlies, and found this. Sounds very useful.

So I don't have to wait for them to flower? I planted Arran Pilot and Lady Christi on 30th March. So it's been 7 weeks.
They have good foliage growth but no flowers yet. How do I know when they are ready?

Generally aim for 10 weeks from planting to start harvesting for 1st earlies. I think Arran Pilot normally flowers, though earlies do have more of a tendency to drop their flower buds. You can always gently have a little scrape away of the soil to see what is happening underneath, should give you a better idea on whether to replace the soil and wait a bit longer, or dig up.

[AnnieD]

OK thanks, will wait another 3 weeks then have a little look