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Panicky premature potato picking

LG_LG_ Posts: 4,107
in Fruit & veg
I've grown potatoes (Anya), in a bag, for the first time. I convinced myself they had blight / eelworm / it was pointless / they'd dried out in this heat too often / pick any other failure scenario. So today I emptied the bag, and I have potatoes! Definitely too soon - most are tiny, and I could see lots of others were developing. No sign of disease. So that's my lesson learnt for next year.

My question is - can I eat even the tiny ones? Or is there some reason I shouldn't? They are bean-sized, some of them.


'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
- Cicero

Posts

  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,104
    Why do you think you cannot eat all the potatoes?
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,107
    I don't think that. I just wondered if perhaps there was a reason not to (eg: they have to reach a certain size to taste OK). I take it there's not?
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,674
    So long as you don't mind the skin they are all fine to eat.  They look a lot better than my potatoes this year!
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,104
    No reason at all. The little ones are just as good (or bad) as the bigger ones. Main problem with them when grown in the garden is missing them and getting 'volunteers' next season.
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,107
    edited July 2018
    Jolly good :).

    These were in a bag, so no 'volunteers'. I love potato skin. I'm going to savour them and not think about the fact that I could have bought them for a tenth of what they cost me to grow ;). And next year I will be more patient.

    I do have some maincrop in another bag... 
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,104
    From what I have read, the main reason for small crops in bags is lack of water. Potatoes need a huge amount of water (sure I read it was something like 4 gallons a day, but that sound excessive). So keep your main crop well watered and wait until the haulms have died down before emptying out. Best of luck.
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,107
    Yes, that was one of my concerns, given that we haven't had any rain since May and blistering sun most days. I have been watering but I thought not enough. Thanks for the tip - I knew they should not dry out but it sounds like they need more than that.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,107
    By the way, they are delicious, even the littlest ones. Just wish there were more! Next year...
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
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