Personally I was going to wait for 13 weeks since planting and they have only been in for just over 11 weeks. But the dogs seemed to agree with Jean and had dug up a couple of plants. And I could see a few decent sized potatoes in the soil. So this evening I got the fork out and excavated the area.
And I found quite a few more...So I phoned Jean to get advice on whether to dig any more up and if so how do I store them. She advised just digging up what you need when you want them - earlies don't store well.
As I already had found more than enough for myself for the next two to three days (Paul is still in the States) I had already blown the advice but at least I didn't need to do any more work...
So I set about trying them out. Boiled in their skins with a sprig of mint in the water. Then seasoned with butter, salt, pepper and home-grown parsley.They were okay but I think they still need a little longer - slightly soapy taste if they are not quite ready Jean had said.
I think we will be be supplying the whole neighbourhood in the next few weeks...
6 comments:
If you do not have the patience to wait until your potatoes are fully ready for harvest you could try pushing your hand into the soil feeling and removing what feels like the largest and carefully removing giving the rest time to mature.(I am not advising only suggesting.)as my advice is leave until ready. We used to dig a pit in the field line it with bracken and fill with potatoes which were then covered with bracken and soil. This kept the potatoes in good condition until spring time.Obviously the rats claimed some during the winter months.I must admit that there is nothing that tastes better than new potatoes boiled in their skins with a knob of butter on top.When they start to age put them in a pot with salt herring on top. this disguises the tast of the ageing potato and draws the excess salt from the preserved herring. I have a funny feeling that you will not try this around the turn of the year as there will be none left by October. C.
I adore new potatoes. Taste also depends on variety & we attempt to try a new one each year as well as planting our old favorites. Do you go to the BOG potato day in march, if not well worth it.
I had the patience, it was Jean and the dogs that didn't :)
What and when is BOG potato day? Guessing British Organic Growers...
Your guess is right, you don't have to be a member of BOG to go although even if you don't go to their events ( I don't) the £5 membership is worthwhile for the quarterly news letter/booklet. Potato day is held in Kelso at the show ground and is usually the first Sunday of March. Really good for all sorts of potatoes and cheap seeds.
The March BOG potato day sounds more like an Irish Potato day!!
A.Murphy.
In my haste I didn't read British in your post re BOG it's actually Borders, a bit nearer home check out
http://bordersorganicgardeners.org.uk
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