Paul Johnston is the founder and master herbalist of The Herb Prof, with decades of clinical experience in naturopathic medicine, herbal remedies, detoxification and holistic wellness. After overcoming his own serious health challenges, he now dedicates himself to helping others reclaim their health naturally.
Harvesting early potatoes is a rewarding experience for any gardener. Early potatoes are typically harvested in late spring to early summer. They take around eight to fourteen weeks to mature. Maincrop varieties take much longer, often around five months. Within the early category, some potatoes grow faster than others.
Knowing when to harvest early potatoes is crucial to ensure that they are at their best. First early varieties are planted between the end of February and early May and are typically ready to be harvested 10 weeks after planting. These varieties are ideal options when planting in potato grow bags or large containers. A few to look for include ‘Arran Pilot’, ‘Foremost’, and ‘Pentland Javelin’, among many others. It is important to note that the size of the potato is not always an indicator of when to harvest. Instead, it is best to wait until the plants have died back before harvesting.
Harvesting early potatoes is relatively straightforward. Gently dig around the plants with a fork, being careful not to damage the potatoes. Once harvested, it is recommended to let the potatoes dry out in the sun for a few hours before storing them in a cool, dark place. With a little patience and care, harvesting early potatoes can be a fun and rewarding experience for any gardener.
Understanding Early Potatoes
As a potato farmer, I have learned that early potatoes are a great addition to any garden. They are generally harvested in late spring to early summer, and take around 8 to 14 weeks (55-100 days) to mature. Early potatoes are known for their thin skin and tender flesh, which makes them perfect for boiling, roasting, or frying. In this section, I will discuss the characteristics and varieties of early potatoes.
Characteristics of Early Potatoes
Early potatoes are harvested before they reach maturity, which means they are smaller in size and have a thinner skin than maincrop potatoes. They are also known as new potatoes or baby potatoes. The thin skin of early potatoes makes them easy to peel, and their tender flesh gives them a buttery texture. Early potatoes are perfect for boiling, roasting, or frying, and they are often used in salads.
Varieties of Early Potatoes
There are many different varieties of early potatoes, each with its own unique characteristics. Some popular varieties of early potatoes include:
- Red Norland: This variety has red skin and white flesh. It is known for its early maturity and excellent flavor.
- Irish Cobbler: This variety has a light brown skin and white flesh. It is known for its creamy texture and nutty flavor.
- Kennebec: This variety has a light brown skin and white flesh. It is known for its high yield and excellent storage qualities.
- Butte: This variety has a light yellow skin and white flesh. It is known for its early maturity and excellent flavor.
- Norkotah: This variety has a light brown skin and white flesh. It is known for its high yield and disease resistance.
In addition to these varieties, there are also fingerling and red potatoes that can be harvested early. Fingerling potatoes are long and thin, and they have a firm texture and nutty flavor. Red potatoes have a red skin and white flesh, and they are known for their sweet flavor and creamy texture.
Overall, early potatoes are a great addition to any garden. They are easy to grow and harvest, and they have a delicious flavor and texture. With so many varieties to choose from, there is sure to be an early potato that suits your taste and needs.
Pre-Harvest Considerations
I know that harvesting early potatoes is a delicate process that requires careful planning and attention to detail. In this section, I will discuss some of the key considerations to keep in mind before harvesting your early potatoes.
Soil Preparation
The first step starts with preparing the soil thoroughly. I enrich it with nutrients and improve drainage to support healthy growth. Afterwards, I add compost or well-rotted manure before planting seed potatoes to create the best foundation.
Planting and Growing Conditions
When I plant seed potatoes, I choose a location with plenty of sunlight. Early potatoes need at least six hours of sun each day to grow properly. I also plant them at the correct depth and space them out to prevent overcrowding.
After planting, I water the potatoes regularly. I prefer deep watering once a week instead of light watering every day. I also mulch the plants to help retain soil moisture.
Finally, I hill the potatoes as they grow. I pile soil around the base of each plant to protect the tubers from sunlight. This step prevents them from turning green and becoming inedible.
By preparing the soil carefully, planting in the right conditions, and caring for the plants as they grow, I ensure a successful early potato harvest.
Harvesting Techniques – Harvesting Early Potatoes
As an experienced gardener, I have learned that harvesting early potatoes is a crucial step in ensuring that they are at their best. There are two main aspects to consider when harvesting early potatoes: determining the right time to harvest and how to dig and gather potatoes safely.
Determining the Right Time to Harvest – Harvesting Early Potatoes
I know harvesting early potatoes plays a crucial role in keeping them at their best. I focus on two main aspects: determining the right time to harvest and digging and gathering potatoes safely.
To know when early potatoes are ready, I watch the foliage closely. When the plants begin to flower, the tubers usually reach the harvest stage. I also gently dig around the base of the plant to check tuber size. If the potatoes look too small, I wait a little longer before harvesting.
How to Dig and Gather Potatoes Safely
When it comes to digging and gathering early potatoes, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you should use a garden fork rather than a shovel. This will help you avoid damaging the tubers. Second, you should gently lift the plants out of the ground. Avoid pulling them out by the stems, as this can cause damage to the tubers.
Once you have lifted the plants out of the ground, you should carefully remove the tubers from the roots. You can do this by gently shaking the plants or by using your hands to carefully remove the tubers from the soil. Be sure to handle the tubers gently to avoid bruising them.
Harvesting early potatoes requires careful attention to detail and a gentle touch. By determining the right time to harvest and using the proper techniques to dig and gather the tubers, you can ensure that your crop is healthy and delicious.
Post-Harvest Handling – Harvesting Early Potatoes
After harvesting early potatoes, it is important to handle them properly to ensure their quality and longevity. In this section, I will cover the curing process for potatoes and how to store them for long-term use.
Curing Process for Potatoes – Harvesting Early Potatoes
After harvesting early potatoes, you must handle them properly to protect their quality and longevity. Curing allows potatoes to dry and heal minor cuts or bruises they receive during harvest. This process also toughens the skins, helping them last longer in storage. To cure potatoes, leave them in a warm, dry location with good ventilation for about 7–10 days. Keep the temperature between 50–60°F (10–15°C). During curing, avoid direct sunlight because it turns potatoes green and triggers solanine, a toxic compound.
Storing Harvested Potatoes
Once you finish curing, store the potatoes for long-term use. Place them in a cool, dark location with good ventilation to stop sprouting or rotting. Maintain a temperature between 35–40°F (2–4°C) and humidity between 85–95%. Protect potatoes from extreme cold or freezing temperatures because these conditions damage their texture.
When storing potatoes, use containers that allow air circulation, such as mesh bags or cardboard boxes with holes. Avoid plastic bags because they trap moisture and cause rot. If you store potatoes in a refrigerator, choose a frost-free model to prevent frost damage.
Proper post-harvest handling of early potatoes requires curing and careful storage. By curing them correctly and storing them in a cool, dark, ventilated space, you extend their shelf life and enjoy them for several months.
Pest and Disease Management – Harvesting Early Potatoes
As with any vegetable, early potatoes are susceptible to pests and diseases that can significantly reduce yield and quality. Identifying and managing these issues is crucial for a successful harvest.
Identifying Common Pests and Diseases – Harvesting Early Potatoes
Early potatoes face a range of pests and diseases, including blight, aphids, and wireworms. Blight, a fungal disease, attacks the foliage and quickly spreads to the tubers, causing significant damage. Aphids, small insects, transmit viruses to the plant, while wireworms, the larvae of click beetles, damage the tubers directly.
Other diseases threaten early potatoes as well. Blackleg blackens stems and leaves, while common scab creates rough, scabby patches on the tubers. Gardeners also need to watch for solanine, a toxic compound that develops in foliage and tubers when potatoes receive too much light.
Preventive Measures and Treatments
Preventing and treating pests and diseases is essential for a successful harvest of early potatoes. Here are some measures you can take:
- Choose disease-resistant cultivars when possible.
- Rotate crops to prevent the buildup of pests and diseases in the soil.
- Keep the foliage dry by watering at the base of the plant rather than from above.
- Remove any infected foliage or tubers promptly to prevent the spread of disease.
- Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to control aphids.
- Apply beneficial nematodes to control wireworms.
- Avoid exposing the tubers to light, which can cause solanine to develop.
By taking these measures, you can help prevent and manage pests and diseases in your early potato crop, ensuring a healthy and abundant harvest.
Optimizing Yield and Quality – Harvesting Early Potatoes
Best Practices for High-Yielding – Harvesting Early Potatoes
I always focus on optimizing yield and quality when harvesting early potatoes. To secure a high yield, I choose the right potato variety. For early potatoes, I recommend Viking or King Edward varieties because they mature faster than other types.
When planting early potatoes, I place them in dry soil to prevent bruising and protect the yield. I plant them in rows, spacing each seed 12 inches apart. This spacing supports proper growth and prevents overcrowding, which otherwise reduces yield.
To encourage high yield, I provide the potatoes with cool days and plenty of water. I keep the plants healthy and strong by maintaining these conditions. I also use a row cover to shield the plants from the sun and harsh weather.
Ensuring Quality of Early Potatoes
In addition to optimizing yield, I focus on ensuring the quality of early potatoes. I harvest them at the right time, usually when the plants start blooming. Blooming signals that the potatoes have formed stolons and reached readiness for harvest.
When harvesting early potatoes, I handle them gently to avoid bruising. Bruised potatoes reduce yield and lower quality. I also sort the potatoes carefully, removing green or damaged ones to maintain overall quality.
To preserve the best quality of early potatoes, I store them properly. I keep them in a cool, dry place to prevent sprouting or rotting. I store maincrop potatoes for longer periods and use them for winter storage.
Optimizing yield and quality when harvesting early potatoes requires careful planning and attention to detail. By following best practices for high yield and maintaining quality, I enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious and healthy potatoes.
Before You Go – Harvesting Early Potatoes
Harvesting early potatoes is one of the most rewarding moments in the garden. These tender, flavorful tubers offer a delicious preview of the season’s bounty. By watching for signs of readiness, such as flowering plants and loose soil, you can dig them up at just the right time.
Before you go, remember to handle the potatoes gently, avoid bruising, and store them in a cool, dark place. Early varieties don’t keep as long as main crops, so enjoy them fresh or use them in your favorite recipes. With care and timing, your early potato harvest will be a tasty success.
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References – Harvesting Early Potatoes
Little Herb Encyclopedia, by Jack Ritchason; N.D., Woodland Publishing Incorporated, 1995
The Ultimate Healing System, Course Manual, Copyright 1985, Don Lepore
Planetary Herbology, Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., Lotus Press, 1988
Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, by James A. Duke, Pub. CRP Second Edition 2007
The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Published by Dorling Kindersley
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Frequently Asked Questions – Harvesting Early Potatoes
What are the signs that early potatoes are ready for harvesting?
Potato plants signal tuber formation when they begin to flower. You can harvest early potatoes after the plants finish flowering. When the foliage turns yellow and starts to die back, the potatoes have reached maturity and are ready to be dug up.
Is it possible to harvest early potatoes by hand without damaging the crop?
You can harvest early potatoes by hand without damaging them. Gently dig around the base of the plant to check tuber size and development. Handle the potatoes and roots with care to avoid bruising or breakage.
How many weeks after flowering should early potatoes be harvested?
You should harvest early potatoes about 8 weeks after planting, when flowering begins. At this stage, you can collect a few tender “new” potatoes from the edges of each plant. For maincrop potatoes, wait 15–20 weeks until the foliage yellows and dies back.
What is the best time of year to harvest potatoes grown in containers?
Harvest container-grown potatoes when the foliage yellows and dies back, usually 15–20 weeks after planting. You can also check tuber size and development by gently digging around the base of the plant.
Can harvesting potatoes prematurely affect their taste or storage properties?
Harvesting potatoes too early affects both taste and storage. Immature potatoes tend to be smaller and lack robust flavor. Wait until they fully mature to ensure better taste and longer storage life.
How long can you leave early potatoes in the ground before they must be harvested?
Harvest early potatoes as soon as they reach maturity. Leaving them in the ground too long causes overripeness and flavor loss. Dig them up after flowering ends, and the foliage begins to yellow and die back.