Potato tops dying

[mysterio_3d]

Having just come back from my hols I went for a quick check down the lottie.  I have had great success with my Charlotte potatoes and also have a couple of rows of Pentland Jav's and King Edwards.  However, the top growth on both of these has now seemed to have died back  ???.  I have had a bit of a rummage about beneath the surface and the potatoes seem to be OK but how long will they last underground now that the tops have died?  I was expecting to leave the King Ed's for another few weeks to get some nice big bakers but will I have to dig them up earlier instead.  Any advice much appreciated.

[mysterio_3d]

[ox]

test

[norfolklass]

the last of my 1st earlies and most of my second earlies are still in the ground due to lack of out-of-the-ground storage space. as long as the slugs don't get them they should be OK, but I'm sure someone else will be along in a bit who actually knows what they're talking about!

[davyw1]

If you think that they have died back to early then i would check for blight if that is the cause then you should really get the tops cut of and burnt also get them out asap.

[Stevens706]

All the potato tops on our site have died back, nothing to worry about, what I did was to take a pair of sears and cut the tops off, as norfolklass said as long as the slugs leave then alone and they don't get water logged they will be fine. Remember you always get potatoes sprouting up where the previous year's bed that were missed and they over wintered ok.

[kenkew]

Tatie tops dying down is normal. I usually cut them to about 4" from the ground when they start to die back. The taties continue to grow without having to feed the leaf. If it's a fungal attack or blight it progresses from one haulm to the next. Cutting them down helps keep diseases at to a minimum if done when die-back starts. Sounds like nothing wrong with your spuds.

[mysterio_3d]

Thanks for the advice, sounds like they should be OK.