How to harvest home grown potatoes?

Question

This is the first time i've tried to grow potatoes and winder if one carefully removes some of the soil from around the plant and picks off the big ones, will the small marble sized ones carry on growing or will the plant just die? Do I have to harvest the whole plant at the same time?

Answer 1

dels replies is correct.  

It is quite safe to remove the larger potatoes as long as you do not disturb the smaller ones or the roots and stems that feed the smaller ones.  If you do disturb them you may lose more than you gain.

Answer 2

Yes, two or three weeks after they flower you can start to remove some. Gently dig around with your hand.  The ones you leave should continue to grow.  It is good to keep adding some soil on top of the mound as the potatoes grow to keep them from coming to the surface.  Don't let the potatoes get sun on them or they will turn green.  Green potatoes are not to be eaten.

Answer 3

We always harvest ours one plant at a time, but I guess you could do what you suggested if you were really careful.  If the very small potatoes become detached from the plant, they obviously won't grow any bigger.

The real risk if you leave the potatoes in the ground too long, is that they'll be attacked by little slugs and woodlice.

If you've grown early potatoes, they should be ready for harvesting about twelve weeks after planting.  Once the plants have flowered, you can start to harvest.

Main crop potatoes take about sixteen weeks from planting to harvesting, and you need to let the haulms (the bit above ground) die back first.  This allows the potatoes to get bigger.  Although you can leave them in the ground, we prefer not to  - again because of the risk of slugs etc.

When you dig your main crop, check them over to make sure they're not damaged then leave them for a few hours to dry and for the skins to "set".  Store the potatoes in paper or hessian sacks and they should keep well in a garage or outbuilding.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Yes you can just get one or two  if very careful.   But is usual to  lift whole plant to harvest varied sizes  of potatoes

Answer 5

try this link

http://gardening-tips-idea.com/PotatoHar...

good luck

Answer 6

i just used to pull up the whole plant all at once - i believe that rot can set in if you don't

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