A quick spud query

I'm no veggie grower (Mr. F'smum's domain) but since he's away, I'm having a go.

Just for fun really, I made drainage holes in a couple of 60ltr bags which had originally held multi-purpose compost and planted some potatoes. They're nothing fancy, just some 'Nicola' I'd bought in the supermarket that got forgotten and had begun to sprout.

I don't necessarily expect a good crop - or indeed any crop at all - but they went in compost about 8" from the bottom of these bags, I've 'earthed up' until the bags are now about ¾ full (earthing up I know, is merely to stop the potatoes being exposed to the light) but it's the tops I'm confused over - they're currently 3' tall and still growing!!

I have 3 questions therefore:

Is this 3' .... normal?
Will they bother to make any spuds or are they just putting on top growth?
Or should I follow my instinct, dump them and leave the veggie growing to 'sir'?

As a PS, those I planted at the same time in a bit of spare ground, are a more respectable 10-12" tall.

 

The top growth on potatoes can get very big Fidgetsmum. Sounds as if your Nicola are getting on fine - so no I wouldn't dump them.
I've grown Nicola from the supermarket in buckets and got really good crops from them. One lot did so well it burst the bucket.
Your potatoes in the ground sound very small. Maybe they're starving.
Good luck with the project.

 

Thank you both, I just don't remember my Dad's spuds having quite so much 'up top'.

It's true, those in the spare bit of ground probably are starving - it's p*** poor soil and I basically planted them to break up the soil for me. I'll give 'em a feed - everything else has had one!