I planted several potatoes this year, but I don't know when to harvest, any help?

Question

There are several varieties, some are flowering already. They all have pretty big leafy greens growing. Can I wait too long? How can I tell (short of just digging them up) if they are ready to eat?

Answer 1

Until they are done flowering they diffently aren't ready.....what we used to do is just scratch along side with your hand and you should see the little potatoes right along the edge 1 to 11//2 in dia we would sometimes take a few from each hill and use them for peas and potatoes....they are special. but you probably have another month to wait.......you can leave them in the ground till the plant dies down or the first frost.   There's no hurry.......other than starvation:)  have fun..

Answer 2

Your may begin to harvest your potatoes 2 to 3-weeks after the plants have finished flowering. At this time you will only find small "baby" potatoes if you were to dig up a plant. Potatoes can be harvested any time after this, by gently loosening the soil, reaching under the plant, and removing the largest tubers, leaving the smaller ones to continue growing.

If you want late potatoes for storage, wait 2-3 weeks after the foliage dies back. Carefully begin digging a foot or so outside of the row or mound. Remove the potatoes as you find them. (Be careful not to bruise or cut the tubers with your spade!) If the weather is dry, allow the potatoes to lay on the soil surface, unwashed, for 2-3 days so they can dry. If the weather is wet, or rain is expected, move the harvest to a cool, dry area (like a garage or basement) for the drying period. This drying step is necessary to mature the potato skin, which will protect the potato during storage.

If, by the end of September, the plants have not begun to die back, all of the foliage should be cut off to ensure your crop has ample time to mature before winter.

Store your undamaged potatoes in a well-ventilated, dark, cool (about 40 degrees) location. Properly dried and stored potatoes should keep well for three to six months.

Don't grow potatoes in the same soil more than once in three years. Many diseases and insect pests will survive and remain in this area, in spite of your best eradication efforts!

Answer 3

After they flower and the tops die, they are ready to dig.  It probably doesn't matter if you wait too long unless there is a lot of rain and the potatoes rot.