Charlotte Potatoes

[prettypolly]

I have grown some Charlotte potatoes in a big bin, I think it was around the end of March (no patience :-)). They look pretty tall now, how would I know when they are ready for harvesting? I have been told two things 1, they have to flower, or 2, the leaves have to wilt, I wasn't quite sure so I thought I would ask you guy's as you all seem pretty knowlegable. Thanks.

[SmileySue]

I don't know because this is my first time too - but blimmin eck they look impressive!!

[Lesley Jay]

Your pot of potato plants do look good! They want about 13 weeks from planting before they will be ready. Main crop potatoes need 22 weeks. Not all varieties flower!

[prettypolly]

Thanks, this is my first time growing..........well anything, I have lots going on in my little space lol, I didn't know they might not flower, will have to work the date back when I planted them now lol.
I may even just move the compost to see how there getting on, will be gutted if theres nothing in there

[SmileySue]

Originally Posted by prettypolly

Thanks, this is my first time growing..........well anything, I have lots going on in my little space lol, I didn't know they might not flower, will have to work the date back when I planted them now lol.
I may even just move the compost to see how there getting on, will be gutted if theres nothing in there

Ha ha!! Me too!! I am so tempted to have a dig around to see if anything's happening! I hate not being able to see

[malcolmx]

you can harvest as soon as the tubers are the size you want to eat they don't need to flower in fact pick of flowers so they cannot set seed you don't need to wilt the stems commercial growers spray with acid to kill the stems before the harvester goes threw i scratch about and wait until they are the size of a medium egg

[Nicos]

They do indeed look good!
I start taking mine when they are in flower and leave some until they have died back.
Charlotte are a brill variety of potato in that you can pick them really tiny- or leave them until they are big enough to cut into decent sized chips.

If you are very careful, you might be able to find a couple of medium sized ones in a couple of weeks and leave the rest of them undisturbed for a while longer to increase in size.
That way you'll have fed your curiosity and still be left with a decent picking later on!
Keep up the watering....

[DunDiggin]

Charlottes are an excellent variety both for pot growing or for in the ground.
By my reckoning if you planted in late March they've been in for about 8 weeks, so I doubt if you'll have any sort of a crop for at least another 3.
I do have one question though. From the photo they look very over crowded. A tub that size should only have been planted with 2 or 3 seed potatoes. From the volume of Foliage I would estimate there are about half a dozen in the tub. Over crowding will reduce the size of the tubers produced. I'll try and take some photo's of mine at the weekend and add them to my blog http://vortexs-veg-patch.blogspot.com/.
There are photo's on there of them 4 weeks ago. At that point there were only about 1 halum per seed potato poking through but between 3 and 5 is typical at this point.
And Charlottes will flower and then die back. I often don't harvest mine until this point.

[prettypolly]

Yes I did overplant them, not sure exactly how many, but now realise the error being a beginner I did do a little scraping back today (about hand level deep) but could not feel anything, so will just have to be patient and wait..... 3 weeks
I will check out your blog DunDiggin, Thanks

[squarefoot]

If its any help I planted Charlotte potatoes in a container at the end of March. Our weather is wet and windy but we don't get a lot of hard frosts. We started eating ours at the end of June. Not a big crop but tasty.

Saw somewhere about planting 2nd early potatoes for Xmas time. So I ordered from Dobies and they arrived yesterday. Didn't expect so many and have got a bit carried away and filled every pot available, plus a builder's blue skip bag with loops on the corners (80 cm square). Has anyone else got any advice for me on this? I never tried for Xmas new pots before and looking at the increasing number of containers I am having doubts about it all being such a good idea . . . .

[Cabbagelover]

I have always wanted to grow potatoes for christmas but I've never got around to it. I do know that the potatoes will be ready in October and they need to be kept in the compost in their containers until christmas.

[malcolmx]

you can buy potatoes for xmas as a kit from t&m and dobies

keep out side until as late as poss you cannot use this years tubers for xmas crop as they need a cold dormant period and daylight lengthening to start again

[prettypolly]

Hello, Just thougt I would show you my "bumper" crop wasn't that many, won't be giving up my day job but I am pleased seeing it was the first time I had grown them. I did put to many in as when I went to pull them out the bin, it came out very potbound, well in one actually, but after cooking them and eating them I am pleased, I still have 3 more different variaties left, but forgotten what they are as the tickets got covered as I was putting the earth in as they were growing

[Lesley Jay]

Great aren't they??? The really tiny ones are lovely steamed and eaten whole - cook's perks!!

[prettypolly]

Yes lesley, they were delicious, didn't last long cannot wait to harvest the rest now

[squarefoot]

They look great. Well done you

[prettypolly]

Thankyou, was well chuffed as I have only ever grown flowers for the front garden
I have 3 more tubs of potatoes, only trouble is, as I was topping up with soil I covered the labels up so what ever comes first will be a surprise

[Jenny]

Hello Pretty Polly,

Did you get your offer of the four potato varieties from a newspaper offer ?
I did and I think it may have been from the Independent or Sunday Times.
If you did then your other three varieties may be Romano, Vales Emerald and King Edward. Just a possibility.

Also the potato council website is quite interesting about potatoes - follow the link for British Potatoes I think it is and it takes you to a place with info about potatoes and also recipes and a kids bit as well.

I have resisted lifting mine yet even though two of the bags look pretty past it in their leaves and none have flowered at all ! but I think I have some new ones and some second earlies - cant remember which ones now !! Will have to look it up again. but certainly two lots are main crop so wont be ready until about September I think. From what I remember the newspaper offer was so popular that they didnt post the potatoes out until it was quite late to plant them.
Next year I will head to Dobbies and get Charlottes alone I think !
Well good luck with your potatoes !

[frederick]

Hi all.... I have just received my potato kit (3 tubs and three packs of pots.) for my xmas spuds and am unsure as to how long to wait for the chitting process... how long should the shoots be before planting in the tubs ?

Please help... Frederick

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Frederick, the seed potatoes for Christmas spuds do not require chitting and need to be planted straightaway.