First earlies

Hi lads my first earlies are well into flower, in this hot dry windy weather how? much water do they need and how often

 

If they're already well into flower, they should be ready soon no? I might be wrong but I think you're possibly only a couple of weeks off harvesting first earlies.
I'm watering mine every couple of days with a fairly good soaking each time, but then my tubs are quite free draining.
My flower buds haven't opened yet but they're not far off, so maybe another 4 weeks or so and I can start eating.

 

As they are well into flower I would water once, heavily, and leave it at that. You will have eaten them in a week or so, won't you? (Might be worth having a feel to see what the tuber size is - or lift a single plant if you can spare it!)

 

I would not go by wether the plants have flowers on or not!

I have had 4 meals so far from my earlies (Dunluce) planted end of Jan in a large wooden cloche.
At this time of the season, I only lift one root at a time.
So far there is not a great crop from each plant, and also not the greatest taste either, they will improve in taste as time goes by, as in other years.

There is "no flowers" on the plants in the cloche, but the potatoes planted mid March with foilage about a foot high have had some flowers on, which I pull off when I see them.

Earlies take about 12 weeks minimum to reach a size that can be started harvesting.
Count the time from when you planted them, add 12 weeks and then start lifting, not before.

As far as watering, if you are on very sandy soil, then maybe they will require watering, but on heavy soils like mine the soil down below is still very wet,no need to even think about water.

Also if water is require it is no use dribbling a watercan full along a row, it required gallons amd gallons to be of any benefit!

Cheers

 

Had a good scrape round and there are some nice sized pots, so gave them a really good soaking along with everything else.
Will have a root up at the weekend . will try and get a photo
thanks lads

 

Had my first Arran Pilot last night. Absolutely delicious (but lots of very tiny tubers, so watered heavily and going to leave them another few days - if DW will let me?!)

 

01-Apr. They were up very tall (relative to the others), and I had earthed them up all I could long before danger of frosts was past - but we were luck this year.

 

Hi Kristen put my duke of york in on 27th march did not really show till 14th april so covered them with straw till i earthed them up ,
So may be a few days ahead of you, gave them a good soaking last night and was going to leave till weehend , but listening to you and JWK may try some tonight ? will keep you posted

 

Well, generally First Earlies planted end March/early April won't be ready until 3rd or 4th week of June ... but I don't grow them to store so digging some up before they are fully developed is fine - depends how many plants you have of course.

 

Hi lads just home from work decided to take up a root for tea, you must be psychic Kristen .
Got 2 the size of a large hens egg the rest like marbles,even after giving them a good soaking the earth under the spuds was bone dry .
So tonight i will give them an even bigger soaking and leave them another 2 weeks ,but the old slave driver will enjoy these im'e sure better than jersey royals;

 

I did slightly better than that, we had half a dozen - so 3 each I suppose - which were reasonable size - bigger than marbles, but certainly no bigger than hen egg size.

I'd better check if I watered long enough last night too!!

I bought the absolute dogs-danglies oscillating sprinkler the other day. Gardena Aquazoom 350/. Can adjust the Left/Right or both width, the throw limit on either side, even the pressure (suprisingly handy if watering a very small patch), and it has a clockwork timer built in so I don't leave it on accidentally. Idela for watering potatoes ... or anything else for that matter. Couldn't afford not ot have it ... honestly!!!

See also: http://the-estate-gardeners-diary.blogspot.com/2008/06/gardena-aquazoom-350t.html

 

Nice one Kristen after just paying £900 00 for a new set of golf clubs i'me under a money cerphew at the moment , s this year i'lle have to stand there wit my hose like a little garden gnome.
Trouble is you think you hav given them a good soaking but last night proved otherwise,

 

Boys and their toys

 

£900.....!. Think of top dog laptop you could buy me... shame on you,,:skp:
robert