Christmas Potatoes – Are they ready to harvest yet?

Christmas potatoes are ready in 12 weeks or 3 months.

  • Planted in July = Ready October,
  • Planted in August = Ready November.

Signs your Potatoes are a few weeks away from harvesting:

  • Yellowing leaves,
  • Stems bending over,
  • Stems dying off,
  • It’s 12 weeks after planting the tubers.

Why are they called Christmas Potatoes, if they don’t last until Christmas?

Christmas Potatoes are 1st or 2nd Early in type and their foliage does not like the cold or frost. This is why they can be grown in the 3-4 months between July and before the frost begins in the UK, normally November.

These potatoes can be stored to use for Christmas in the soil in pots in a frost free shed or garage. They can also be harvested and used in the kitchen in October.

How to Harvest your Christmas Potatoes in Containers

You will need:

  • A tarpaulin, sheet or old compost bags to turn out your potatoes and soil onto so as not to ruin your patio. Alternatively you can turn out the containers on the lawn, or over an empty raised bed,
  • Secateurs to cut the stems off.
  • A harvest bowl or basket for the potatoes.
  • A container of compost – if you need to store the potatoes until Christmas, you can store them in soil in a container in your shed.

Method

  1. Cut off the stems with secateurs and add to compost bin or green waste bin.
  2. Lay out your protective sheets and tip the container upside down.
  3. Lift off the container and put to one side.
  4. With your hands, go through the soil to find your potatoes and put them in a bowl or harvest basket.
  5. Flatten the soil by spreading it out and use your fingers to go through the soil so find the hidden ones.
  6. Spent potato soil can be re-used in raised beds, flower borders and containers. Mix new compost into the spent soil for new nutrients.
  7. The only thing that shouldn’t be grown in potato’s compost is tomatoes, aubergines and sweet peppers because they are in the same nightshade family and if a disease is in the soil it could transfer to the plants in the same family and affect them.
  8. Store your new potatoes in the fridge in a paper bag or open plastic pot. Wash before cooking.

How to Store Christmas Potatoes

  • 1. When harvested, put them back in the soil in a container and put it in the shed or garage. Make sure all the potatoes are under the soil and do not see the light otherwise they will go green and have to be thrown away.
  • 2. When harvested, bring inside and store in a paper or hessian bag in the fridge or a plastic pot in the fridge. They will last for up to one month.

The Christmas Potato Growing Recap

26 August – Planting

Planted ‘Red Duke Potatoes’ x 4 tubers to each container.

Link:

Holidays are Coming, Tis the Season for Growing Christmas Potatoes in Containers

9th October – Growing

Green and purple leaves for 3 containers of potatoes.

27 October – Almost Ready

Leaves are going yellow, a few weeks to harvest in mid November.

The Potato Series



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Best Season for Jasmine Mogra Plant for Healthy Growth

Image
Best Season for Jasmine Mogra Plant   Jasmine or Mogra is a perennial flowering plant that grows as a shrub or vine. it produces small, white, highly fragrant flowers that bloom in clusters. It can be grown in pots, containers, or garden soil. It requires warm temperatures and good sunlight for optimal growth. Jasmine Mogra Plant Best Season for Jasmine Mogra Plant   Climatic Conditions for Jasmine (Mogra) Growth   To understand the best season for jasmine growth, it is essential to know its preferred climate: Temperature Requirements   Jasmine thrives in temperatures between 15°C to 35°C (59°F to 95°F) . Extreme cold or frost can damage the plant. Humidity Levels   It grows best in a moderate to high humidity environment (50-80%). Dry air can cause flower buds to drop. Sunlight Needs   Requires at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Can tolerate partial shade but blooms best in full sun. Best Season for Jasmin...
Read more

Gardening Queries on Mogra Plant – Why My Jasmine Plant is Not Flowering & Growing

Image
Why My Jasmine Plant is Not Flowering We are excited to introduce our new initiative – Gardening Queries , where we will answer some of the most common gardening problems faced by plant lovers. Whether you’re struggling with slow plant growth, lack of flowers, or any other gardening issue, we are here to help! Jasmine plant In this edition, we will be discussing one of the most frequently asked questions about Mogra (Arabian Jasmine) plants – Why is my Mogra plant not growing or flowering? If your plant is not thriving despite your best efforts, don’t worry! We’ve got the solutions you need. So, let’s get started: Jasmine or Mogra is one of the most beloved flowering plants known for its fragrant white blooms. However, many gardeners face issues where their Mogra plant either doesn’t grow properly or fails to flower despite proper care. If you’re struggling with this, you’re not alone! Let’s address the most common Mogra plant problems with solutions to help your plant...
Read more

Best Pot Size for Jade Plant: Selection The Right Pot – Small, Medium or Large

Image
Best Pot Size for Jade Plant   Jade plants are popular succulents that are easy to care for and make beautiful additions to your garden area. Jade plant can thrive and grow happily in a pot for many years, reaching up to three feet in height.  When selecting the right pot for a jade plant, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. Jade plants develop thick, woody stems and fleshy, rounded leaves. Though their growth is slow, they can become top-heavy as they mature and produce new foliage. Since jade plants are sensitive to excess moisture and cannot tolerate water sitting at the base of the pot (often called “wet feet”), proper drainage is essential to prevent root rot. Therefore, it’s best to choose a pot that has a wide, stable base to support the plant’s weight and promotes effective drainage to keep the roots healthy. Best Pot Size for Jade Plant   Understanding Jade Plant Growth   Jade plant in small pot Before we discuss pot size, it is importa...
Read more