Time to dig up or not?

[SueSteve]

We planted our earlies on Good Friday, we planned on digging them up towards the end of June. They are planted in an old plot (we now have a new big plot) so we kind of forgot abpout them.
I had a quick look and they have fruit (thye look like tomatoes!!) should they now be ready to dig up?

[SueSteve]

[adrianhumph]

Hi Suesteve,
                     They should be ready now, I planted mine a week earlier than you & have been lifting mine for a week now, they are a good size. You can lift the whole plant carefully & then take out the suitable ones then replant the whole thing ;D This will give the small one`s a bit longer to grow. The fruits are exactly that, THEY ARE POISONOUS do not eat them.

                                                      Adrian.

[PurpleHeather]

Varieties vary and the weather plays a part too. The tomato like tops are normal with some varieties, the species are related but then so is deadly nightshade and we don't eat the fruit from them either.

Roses and strawberries are related, but we wont go there.

The rule of thumb is about 12 to 13 weeks or 90 days. 

Most people dig up one plant (usually enough for a meal for two) then see how large the spuds are. It is a cross between personal taste and necessity.
Some scrape round the tops gather a few for a meal and bank back up with soil, so that the baby spuds will grow on.

It is a case of finding your own way around your crop and what size your head chef wants his/her spuds. Can you dig up daily or will you need to do it once a week? Do you need the ground for more crops or can you leave the potatoes longer?

Enjoy your spuds and don't be mean with the butter.

[cornykev]

Or the mint.  :P    ;D ;D ;D

[Trevor_D]

I treat my first earlies as a sort of catch crop and the sooner I get them up & eaten the better; then I can put leeks or PSB in their place.

[tonybloke]

harvested these today[attachment=1]
'charlotte' 2nd early, planted 20th april. :P ;)

[caroline7758]

I dug a few up at the weekend, but it's only 10 weeks since I planted so there weren't many. Must be more patient!

[saddad]

My Epicure and Maris Peer will be ready soon...  ;D