When are they ready?

Tracydr · May 4, 2012

I started some potatoes in early Feb. they are red but I'm not sure what kind. I think they are supposed to be an early variety.
Since my plants will most likely succumb to heat rather than frost, how do I tell if they're ready?

kath · May 4, 2012

If they are an early variety like Red Norland, you could have a good harvest in just a couple months. Potato plants will begin to die back when they're finished, but you can gently reach around under the soil and see what size taters you've got. Often people will take some early new potatoes from each plant and let the smaller tubers increase in size. Usually the tubers will have formed when the plant flowers but varieties vary and some flowers are less noticeable than others. If you've planted a lot you can just dig up a whole plant but if you've planted in a barrel you might want to use a less ruthless method.

Tracydr · May 10, 2012

Thanks, Kath!
They started to grow strongly around mid-Feb and are still
Looking good. I guess I'll give them a few more weeks or until they wither away when we go above 100 all next week.
I have them shaded since they were wilting from 90 degrees.

**Tom Wagner** · May 10, 2012

Potatoes are currently being dug in Kern County, California...(Bakersfield) and these are potatoes that were planted late Jan. That falls into the 90-110 day maturity of potatoes....days from planting to harvest. Some potato varieties are early and they show it well....but most potatoes commercial grown are cut down before full maturity in order to set the skin.

I would say the potatoes planted in early Feb. would be ready now and surely in another two to three weeks. Watering excessively now might encourage bacterial rot.....potatoes with raised lenticels caused by too much watering are especially susceptible to diseases caused by bacteria. Bacterial soft rot and lenticel spot are two commonly occurring potato diseases.

Dig a few hills at a time...once the lenticels are becoming more prominent...all should be dug. Am I correct in thinking you are growing these for food and not for replanting? If you are trying to save the potatoes for later use and/or for replanting...a mulch around the hills might be useful to keep the soil a bit cooler.

Tracydr · May 10, 2012

Thanks, Tom!
I'm just growing them for fresh food. Hoping for nice, fresh boiled red potatoes. I only have a small batch, about 6x8 feet.

Tracydr · May 10, 2012

I didn't know what lenticels were. In the process of looking this up, I found a helpful picture guide of diseases.
Thought somebody might find it useful.
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/cat...m/em8948-e.pdf

May 4, 2012	#1
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	When are they ready? I started some potatoes in early Feb. they are red but I'm not sure what kind. I think they are supposed to be an early variety. Since my plants will most likely succumb to heat rather than frost, how do I tell if they're ready?

May 4, 2012	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	If they are an early variety like Red Norland, you could have a good harvest in just a couple months. Potato plants will begin to die back when they're finished, but you can gently reach around under the soil and see what size taters you've got. Often people will take some early new potatoes from each plant and let the smaller tubers increase in size. Usually the tubers will have formed when the plant flowers but varieties vary and some flowers are less noticeable than others. If you've planted a lot you can just dig up a whole plant but if you've planted in a barrel you might want to use a less ruthless method.

May 10, 2012	#3
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Thanks, Kath! They started to grow strongly around mid-Feb and are still Looking good. I guess I'll give them a few more weeks or until they wither away when we go above 100 all next week. I have them shaded since they were wilting from 90 degrees.

May 10, 2012	#4
Tom Wagner Crosstalk™ Forum Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: 8407 18th Ave West 7-203 Everett, Washington 98204 Posts: 1,157	Potatoes are currently being dug in Kern County, California...(Bakersfield) and these are potatoes that were planted late Jan. That falls into the 90-110 day maturity of potatoes....days from planting to harvest. Some potato varieties are early and they show it well....but most potatoes commercial grown are cut down before full maturity in order to set the skin. I would say the potatoes planted in early Feb. would be ready now and surely in another two to three weeks. Watering excessively now might encourage bacterial rot.....potatoes with raised lenticels caused by too much watering are especially susceptible to diseases caused by bacteria. Bacterial soft rot and lenticel spot are two commonly occurring potato diseases. Dig a few hills at a time...once the lenticels are becoming more prominent...all should be dug. Am I correct in thinking you are growing these for food and not for replanting? If you are trying to save the potatoes for later use and/or for replanting...a mulch around the hills might be useful to keep the soil a bit cooler.