I just dug my first potato. The vines have flowered and are yellowing and slipping away. It was only about a 2-bite potato.
I felt around; seemed like there were only smaller potatoes. I should dig them anyway, right? They aren't getting bigger since the vine is fading away? I am afraid of damaging the potatoes; what is the best way to harvest without accidentally cutting them with the spade?
These plants are from an organic russet from the grocery store. thank you
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- Greener Thumb
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The way I dig them is with a spading fork. There is a potato digging fork too, I don't have one. I usually start to dig about 8 inches to a foot outside of where I think the potatoes might be and work inward. Even so, I sometimes manage to spear a couple!
I think you're ok to leave them in the ground and use them as needed, someone else may have another idea. I don't think they'll continue to grow without much of a plant up above.
I think you're ok to leave them in the ground and use them as needed, someone else may have another idea. I don't think they'll continue to grow without much of a plant up above.
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- Green Thumb
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Cutting the vines a few weeks before digging the tubers allows the skins to toughen.
I just dig out the bed. The soil is prepped for fall veggies. The potato plants are pulled as I dig under them. I seldom hit a tuber with the shovel. Lots of compostables go into the soil behind me and compost in place. I mostly use the potato bed to grow fall greens but it can have most anything, next year.
I must admit that I'm only digging about 4 to 6 plants each week because I've got two tasks going at once. Three, if you count the sowing of seed on the prepped soil as I go along.
Steve
I just dig out the bed. The soil is prepped for fall veggies. The potato plants are pulled as I dig under them. I seldom hit a tuber with the shovel. Lots of compostables go into the soil behind me and compost in place. I mostly use the potato bed to grow fall greens but it can have most anything, next year.
I must admit that I'm only digging about 4 to 6 plants each week because I've got two tasks going at once. Three, if you count the sowing of seed on the prepped soil as I go along.
Steve
- jal_ut
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You don't need to be in a big hurry to dig the taters. They keep well in the ground. The skins will toughen up with some time. New potatoes have very thin skins. You can use a finger to lift a few for eating anytime as the potatoes grow and leave the plant. Dig them after the plant has gone down and dying. A digging fork is better than a spade for digging taters.