My PFA spuds are coming into flower. Seems very early to me as they are going to be in the ground so long. Is this normal?
Anne
Mine too I wondered as well , no doubt there will be help at hand soon :)
Last year my PFA's were finishing flowering by mid July, but not sure when they actually started. I didn't harvest them until mid-October.
I seem to remember them flowering fairly early last year, but didn't start harvesting them till August. Mine I guess are still a good month off being anywhere near ready to eat :)
1066
Mine got murdered by slugs, while all the other spuds were left alone as usual. They seem to be recovering a bit now.
Plot51A - The flowering and tuberisation are two independent processes and neither affects the other. Regardless of the flowering your plants will still crop at their usual time.
Robert - There is now a slug specific nematode which works underground, and is effective for about 6 weeks from application. One treatment at the approximate time of tuber initiation should see the crop more or less protected until harvest. Let me know if you want details
Thanks Kepouros didn't know that before.
Thanks, if I continue to get problems I may try it. On the other hand, since I've grown PFA before without problems, it may be a one-off. Or since it is just the one variety, it may be best to avoid it and grow something else. I'm puzzled, though.
plot51A
PFA are late maincrop and need 24 weeks in the ground - they do not form tubers until very late. First earlies are said to be ready on flowering.