Harvesting potatoes

We haven't had any rain here for months, so the earth is like concrete (mostly clay.) So still haven't dug up the last few rows.
Hoping that the worms, mice etc also can't get to them.

Might not be you Yorkshire we've just dug up the rest of our second earlies (not been eating many as on low carb diet) and they're OKish....but normally had we left them in the ground until now they'd be the size of a cobble stone.

I've two rows of Main Crop (Rooster) due to be lifted any day now but I'm too nervous to look just yet. It's not been a great year for tattles.

Potatoes? What potatoes? I planted earlies, two big pots, plus two pots to dig up in September, plus 2 potatoe bags. The ones in the bag were sprouted ones from the pantry. I got about one pound of potatoes altogether no bigger than a golf ball. What did I do wrong? They were in all purpose compost and in semi-shade. I also watered them once a week and gave them a good soaking.

Stalks not stalls!

Tizliz that did cross my mind. Rural schools in Angus always referred to the tattie holidays! I think I was wondering more about the state of the stalls but am reassured that my harvest can wait a week or two.
Now pumpkins! One sister has 6 gc's and I have 2 all local plus other sister's 4
further afield. I feel a competition coming on!!

I remember that,Tizliz - I lived in Northumberland and we had potato week there too. And blackberry week.

Half term in October is two weeks long in Scotland for potato picking. Though I don't think many of the children actually do it anymore. So leave the potatoes for another 4-5 weeks.

Your conditions in Scotland will be different from ours. We left some potatoes in the ground for some time last year and wireworm attacked them.

Yes, plant 3-4 in spring and grown on the best two seedlings. I don't think it needs that much heat for pumpkins to ripen.

If you are in central Scotland I'd no be digging up the tatters just yet hen.

Great idea but do you think central Scotland is warm enough for pumpkins? Are the seeds planted in spring for October ripening?

Get her to grow her own pumpkin next year. Really easy and very satisfying.

Though, depending on the variety, they might get scabby!

You can leave potatoes in the ground until the first frost without them deteriorating.

Runner beans are a good veg for children to grow, because they sprout quickly and you can see the progress.
Strawberries too - they can watch the flowers turn into fruits.

Thanks ladies. The problem was trying to judge just when to start digging. I do want to avoid the disappointment of the 'marbles' but don't want them to deteriorate. I'll investigate discreetly before she arrives and we'll then dig them up together - hopefully this weekend!
I think we'll try carrots round the edges of flower tubs next year as the feathery leaves are pretty.
She's delighted that our new little plum tree yielded around 20 small but tasty plums - thanks to her generous watering!

We did potatoes last year with good results.
This year we grew radishes and pea pods in the raised bed and the wee GD (2 and 3/4) loves coming to pick her peas ... Grandad attends to her radishes since they need washed.
Next year we'll grow more peas and hopefully asparagus.

When teaching in a deprived inner city secondary school we grew potatoes in a disused sand tray ( the sort that go outside ). They were great we cooked them up and ate them!

My best potatoes have come from an ornamental garden tub, when I reused the compost. They grew alongside the petunias!

Depends on what type of potato it is. There are first earlies, which can be harvested from mid June onwards, Second earlies which are just about finishing now and Maincrop which are usually ready about October depending on the variety.

You are actually better leaving them a bit longer as it's disappointing digging up a plant to find marble-sized potatoes.

Leaf die back does not necessarily indicate readiness.

Definately ready. Harvesting potatoes is a joy

Maybe just lift part of the compost gently and have a peep at what's going on down below. In theory they should be ready to pull up when the foliage dies back. Digging for gold!
Best not to leave them too long if they're ready because they might get invaded by the animal life in the compost.
We've had some lovely potatoes from sprouted ones I discarded into the compost bin.