Potatoes, first , second earlies and now main crop.

valerieroberts

hi, I’ve planted first earlies Casa Blanca  and second earlies Charlotte. I now have the Maris piper main crop to see to. What I want is them to be ready when I have eaten all the first and second  Earlies . If they take 3 months to mature I should be Eating my charlottes July,August September. The Maris piper main crop are sitting on the window shelf chitting  very nicely. How long can I leave them there. I want to start digging them up in October as and when I need them. If I leave them in the ground too long slugs invade so timing is the way to go. This is because I love eating potatoes that have just been freshly dug up and why I’m taking so much trouble with a cheap item to buy.  Advice please. Valerie 

alexryzawlskiqBU-X4OF

Main crops should be planted from April through May to harvest from late summer to mid autumn (October). So I'd be planting them out as soon as you think they're done chitting. The main crops should remain in the ground till all foliage has died so you can probaly leave them in the ground a bit longer if necessary.

Dovefromabove

No need to chit maincrop potatoes. It’s done for earlies simply to get a head start so that they’re already growing when they’re planted and can then be harvested just that bit earlier than if they’d not been chief before planting. 😊 

valerieroberts

@alexryzawlskiqBU-X4OF @Dovefromabove  Thank you for that. I’m looking forward to a bumper crop if the dreaded blight doesn’t get them. Valerie 

Dovefromabove

Dovefromabove said:

No need to chit maincrop potatoes. It’s done for earlies simply to get a head start so that they’re already growing when they’re planted and can then be harvested just that bit earlier than if they’d not been chief* before planting. 😊 

Edited to say *chief is flaimin'' auto-correct's attempt at 'chitted'  🙄