PLANT TO HARVEST TIMES
The time it takes for potatoes to be ready for harvest
varies greatly depending on the type and particular variety.
The timings below are for the different types of potato.
| TYPE |
FROM |
TO |
| First Early |
60 days |
105 days |
| Second Early |
95 days |
120 days |
| Maincrop |
125 days |
140 days |
Another commonly used method for harvesting is to start
about two weeks after the flowers appear. This is a
reasonably accurate method which involves no calculations
back to the planting time.
Whichever method you use don't harvest all your potatoes
at one time. The initial harvesting is a bit mucky but
that's gardening!. Gently wriggle you hand into the compost
trying to disturb as little as is possible. Feel around for
potatoes and remove one or two of the largest. If they are
all still very small then leave the harvesting for a week.
If the potatoes you remove are of an acceptable size then
harvest as and when you need potatoes. There are some
difference in harvesting method depending on the type of
potato which are described below.
FIRST EARLY POTATOES
These are sold in the shops as New Potatoes and are the most
expensive to buy. They do not keep well and need to be eaten
within a week of harvest. The beauty of growing potatoes in
containers though is that you can harvest tem exactly when
you need them and pop them straight into boiling water for
the tastiest New Potatoes ever.
The smallest new potatoes are the tastiest but at the
same time they are the least productive. It's up to you to
balance the taste against the size of the potato. First
early potatoes crop over a period of about 30 days.
SECOND EARLY POTATOES
Second Early potatoes are really a cross between first early
and maincrop potatoes. They bridge the gap in harvesting
times, maturing faster than maincrop but slower than first
earlies.
The harvesting method is the same as for early potatoes.
The main difference is that second earlies can be stored for
longer than first earlies.
MAINCROP POTATOES
The difference with maincrop potatoes, aside from the time
they take to mature, is that they can can be stored for much
longer. The time depends on the variety and the storage
conditions. Harvesting method is the same as for other
potatoes but your are looking to harvest only good-sized
potatoes leaving the smaller ones to mature into full-sized
potatoes.
NEXT STEPS
After harvesting your potatoes the method of storing them is
crucial if you want to keep them for the maximum time. Click
the link below "HOW TO STORE POTATOES" or simply click "NEXT
PAGE" at the bottom of this page.
HOW TO CHIT / SPROUT POTATOES
PREPARING TO PLANT YOUR
POTATOES
HOW TO PLANT POTATOES IN CONTAINERS
HOW TO CARE FOR
POTATOES IN CONTAINERS
HOW TO STORE
POTATOES
GROWING POTATOES
IN CONTAINERS FOR CHRISTMAS
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