Potatoes are ready - question

[Rosendula]

I planted loads of potatoes this year to see if I can get right through without buying any. I planted a few different varieties, including Arran Pilot and Pentland Javelin (both earlies). Unfortunately, I was relying on the information in the so-called 'expert' books (not a fan), where it said PJ was ready later than other earlies. So when I started harvesting-on-demand, I started with AP. I'm not even half way through those, and the PJs have just about died off. The don't look diseased, just like they've reached the end of their lives. If anything, perhaps I didn't water them enough, but whatever, they're about dead. (It's frustrating because the APs that I haven't lifted still look big and strong and healthy.)

Anyway, I know that you usually lift earlies as you want them, but does that count when the haulms have died off? I've never had this happen before
Should I cut the dead haulms off? Or should I just leave them with the haulms on?
Should I dig when I want them? Or should I dig them all up and store them and make use of the space?

Please tell me what to do!!!

[Annpan]

Don't know, I would have thought you can just continue to harvest them when you need them? but go over to PJ and let AP grow more.?

I started harvesting my Arran Pilots.... I dug up 2 plants, and only got 2 decent sized totties and a handful of itty bitty ones I have tried to replant the haulms I dug up but I don't have much faith.

[Peggy Sue]

Sorry not Odsox but I grew PJ last year and they were brilliant, much regret not doing so this year.

I gre three types this year, the completely rubbish self mashing in 5 minutes Sharpes Express (anyone for potato soup?), Charlottes that I haven't got round to yet but nearly, and maincrop.
The Charlottes are looking yellow and dying just as you described- didn't get that this time last year with the PJ's so I'm assuming it's the weather. Its not happening to the main crop.

My allotment neighbour alway cuts the tops off his spuds and leaves them in the gorund till he wants them, including maincrops all winter so I guess the earlies won't mind especially since there isn't blight or slug risk in this dry weather.....odsox might have to correct me there?

[Millymollymandy]

I would dig up some now to store them, and leave some in place to harvest as and when. The stored ones will get harder skins so will be better for using as baking spuds etc and the ones in the ground will still have soft skins for eating as new spuds with nice soft skin.

I think!!!

but also don't forget that there are nasties lurking in the soil that like to munch on spuds, so even if what I wrote above is a load of tosh I'd still get half of them out and stored so that they don't get eaten by anything other than you and your family!

And then you have the space for more salad stuff or whatever.

[boboff]

Hmm, as I have now forgotten which 6 types of Potato I bought, and where I planted them, it has amazed me that some are really small on top but have loads of potatoes, and ones which look or showy and lush have a few tiddlers.

I planted some in a shaded bed at the bottom of the garden and they must be 5ft high, is this just the light? They are not leggy, but the ground is the only bit I have gardened previously, and so was well manured, could this be the reason?

I am learning that I must start to label things properly and actually plan where I am going to plant things, crop rotation..... Plant it where evers been dug!

[Peggy Sue]

I am learning that I must start to label things properly and actually plan where I am going to plant things, crop rotation..... Plant it where evers been dug!

I'm the worlds worst, I start off with big plans each year to id stuff properly.... but I will only know whats broccoli and whats sprouts when it happens! I am a bit better at keeping a diary, all the seeds I sew I leave on teh table and write it doen that night, then when I can't remember whats what I can sometimes work it out from the diary...sometimes

[boboff]

Cool, it's not just me! Thats exactly what I do!

[Odsox]

Should I cut the dead haulms off? Or should I just leave them with the haulms on?
Should I dig when I want them? Or should I dig them all up and store them and make use of the space?

Sorry, I was away for a bit.

Sounds like you are right about the Pentlands and they have come to the end of their growing, my Home Guard are the same.
There is absolutely no reason why you can't stop digging the Arrans and start digging the Pentlands, unless you need the space and want to grow something else where the PJ's are.
As to cutting the haulm off, there is no need to do that either as long as it died of old age and not disease. Plus, if you cut them off it's more difficult to see where the plants are when it's time to dig them.
Commercial growers do that to maincrop to stop the tubers getting too large and to harden the skins, fooling the plant into stopping growing.
Commercial growers that do this often spray the field with herbicide to achieve the same result !! Another good reason to grow your own
Unless you are plagued with field slugs (those little light brown ones that live underground) I would leave your potatoes where they are, they will mature better in the soil. After all, the old fashioned (and new fashioned) way to store potatoes and other roots is to re-bury them in clamps.

So basically, whatever you decide to do is the right thing to do.

[Rosendula]

Wehey! Thanks for that. I feel better now.

I have started digging up the ones that are dying off and am now leaving the Arran Pilots until later. It really doesn't make much difference to me, I just wish I'd started digging the PJs earlier and left the APs, but I was just going by the book - silly me I dug up a load yesterday evening and have given some to the nice man next door and will send some to the inlaws. The rest I'll just dig as I want them unless they start getting eaten by slugs, then they'll come out.

Boboff and Peggy Sue - I'm not much good at labelling things myself. I do try very hard, but the labels either fade or vanish This year, though, I really wanted to monitor the spuds to help me choose what to grow next year, so I drew a rectangle on the inside of my shed wall and marked on there which spuds were growing where. It was so much better than labels or bits of paper placed carefully inside books for safekeeping which still manage to disappear.

[Peggy Sue]

:

Boboff and Peggy Sue - I'm not much good at labelling things myself. I do try very hard, but the labels either fade or vanish This year, though, I really wanted to monitor the spuds to help me choose what to grow next year, so I drew a rectangle on the inside of my shed wall and marked on there which spuds were growing where. It was so much better than labels or bits of paper placed carefully inside books for safekeeping which still manage to disappear.

Ah the shed.... now you've got me thinking!