Spuds

[Jesse]

I lifted some maincrop spuds today and they are enormous!  Most of them a good size but the biggest was this one, weighing in at 514 grams.



One of the potatoes had a wireworm busy digging his way inside. I'm worried now that they're going to get munched before I lift them. The foliage is starting to die back but not completely yet. Would it be okay to lift them now for storing?

As some of the spuds are very big, will Cara's be okay for baking? I guess the only way to find out is to bake one. :)

[Jesse]

[tim]

Lift when you like.

I was just going to show the first plant of Lady Balfour. Lifted because it was next to Nicola, which got blight, & looked a bit suspect. Considering that the soil has been rock hard & bone dry, not a bad attempt? The largest is 708gm. The foliage is enormous & has collapsed into a tangle. Just a few are starting to get slug damage, whereas Nicola had only 2 damaged in 2 X 25' rows. 9.25lb.

[Jesse]

That is big Tim! :o They've done well considering the dry weather this year, I'm also pleased with my yield considering no much watering took place and rain has not been very often. Think I'll go lift the whole row tomorrow. :)

[wardy]

Ooooh how exciting - folks picking spuds right, left and centre :)  Yer cara's Jesse - I think, according to my catalogue, are good roasters  :)  I have a bed of Cara's which are still upright and in full flower so won't bother with them yet but I have tipped out a tub of Cara's as they were looking stressed and full of weeds in the pot etc.  The pot was bone dry but there were still some good spuds in there and all in good nick  :)  I have two more lots planted in fertiliser bags and I think they will be harvested next

I have mainly been harvesting my no dig Desiree's today and I'm right pleased with how many I've got and there are some whoppers.  Slugs don't seem to like them as none have been eaten which is good news  :)

Tim   Your Balfour's look great - let us know how they taste

[tim]

Who needs to dig if that's no dig!

[Jesse]

Good grief Wardy! :o ;D Those look fantastic! For a minute I thought they were all from growing in that yellow bucket. :)

[wardy]

Ta Jessevieve - nah I must confess not all grown in that bucket but bought home from the lotty in it .  Not bad for no-dig spuds - easy to pick too  :)

[redimp]

How many plants is Wardy - so we can do a fair comparison  ;D

[Diana]

Excellent Wardy and great there were no probs with the slimey beasties!

[TEL]

Hi all
I done a no need to did under black Hessian 8 spuds & 8 spuds as normal.
Not a lot of diffrents in the amount of spuds but a lot easier to pick the no need to dig.

[wardy]

RC I  got them in a small mesh bag from the nursery (well known brand, green label) can't think of the name and the bag is in the lotty shed.  Now show us yours  ;D

I didn't do any more as I didn't know what yield to expect but I needn't have worried.  Also my back was so painful at planting time that I'm glad I didn't do any more. 

I've got another bed of Cara to harvest but they don't look ready yet.  I've ordered some potato sacks from Marshall's so confident I'm going to need em  ;D

This lottying lark is great when the harvest is going well  :)

[Jesse]

It is great Wardy. Whilst I was at the plot today digging up the spuds I thought back to earlier in the year. Nothing was ready for cropping at that time, my back was aching from all the digging and the weeds were on the rampage, I nearly considered giving it all up, so pleased I didn't as now at harvest time it's so worth it. :D

[wardy]

Even my OH, who doesn't know his celeriac from his mange tout, was waxing lyrical today about toms straight off the vine while still warm.  Ripening at last.  I knew they would  :)  My beef toms show no sign of turning red yet but at least the G Delight are lovely  :)

[Twospot Ladybird]

Hi Jessevieve, Cara's are one of the best bakers you can get. They're a waxy variety but not too firm and taste great. I hate eating the skins of baked potatoes except for the skins of Cara's. I find most potato skins have an earthy taste but Caras have a slight sweetness about them which I really like.

[Jesse]

Thanks for that twospot :)

[wardy]

Glad to hear that - can't wait  :)