The harvesting method is the same as for early potatoes. Second early seed potatoes, also known as Second Earlies, are the second group of seed potatoes to be planted in the growing season. Late-season varieties require 135 to 160 cool days to reach harvest. Disease resistance is good for common scab, skin spot and potato virus Y resistance. The maincrops will be ready around late August to October. A high yielding seed potato variety, Nadine produces many tubers at the root and are a popular showbench variety. If you are hoping for new potatoes (small, less mature potatoes with thin skins), then you can harvest them 2 to 3 weeks after the plant stop flowering. Like the first earlies, second early potatoes are best eaten straight out of the ground, and will keep stored in the ground for up to a month after reaching maturity. Carlingford is an excellent salad type potato which produces a high number of round to oval tubers, with a firm waxy texture. Small, new potatoes. They like a little more room to grow, and a slightly longer growing period. Harvest July Recommended Variety: Orla; Maincrop – 135 days. Early potatoes are the best choice for southern regions where summers are very warm or hot. Second earlies – 110 days. One of the most important staple food crops in the world, there are many different types of potatoes loosely classified between early season potatoes and late-season potatoes. Second early potatoes can be dug up as and when you require them, with the other potatoes being left in the ground. Plant up from the end of February to late May. In the second early category you’ll often find those potatoes referred to as ‘salad potatoes’, because they’re slightly more firm in the flesh, and therefore ideal for using in salads. To dig new potatoes, use a garden fork to dig a few potatoes, leaving the plant intact so the remaining potatoes can continue to mature. Second Earlies are traditionally planted at the same time as First Earlies (around mid March). The secret behind exactly when to start them off lies in the timing of your last expected frost date. The amount of time it takes for your potato harvest to be ready is mainly influenced by the variety of potato you choose. These are sprouted or ‘chitted’ prior to planting, particularly when growing early … Nadine seed potatoes are one of the most successful varieties, introduced around 1987 by famous potato breeder, Jack Dunnett. A couple of questions for you so I can help: How deep is the soil in the tunnel? Seed potatoes are classified according to the length of time they take to mature, but this can be influenced by weather.Second early seed potatoes mature in 110-120 days. Plant early April. Planted mid to late April, they will be ready for harvesting from early to mid August. Plant mid to late April. First early potatoes will be ready to harvest around 10 weeks after planting. The categories are defined by the length of time they take to reach maturity and by preparing and planting according to these characteristics it is possible to have a steady supply of potatoes harvesting from June through to … Potatoes can be divided into 3 categories, early, second early and maincrop varieties. The humble potato is a staple on many dinner tables around New Zealand. Second early seed potatoes can be planted from mid March onwards as a rough guide, dependent on weather. Harvest October onwards. Likewise, for full details, see the growing guide. When you choose to plant out your potatoes can make a big difference to the size and quality of your harvest. Potatoes are a cool-season vegetable able to tolerate light frost in the early spring and able to grow during the cooler part of the growing season (during the fall months) in many areas of the country. First early potatoes should be ready to harvest in June and July, with second earlies in July and August. First Earlies From sowing to harvesting … The difference is that early varieties are more tolerant of colder weather, mature faster, and require a little less space between plants. How To Harvest First Earlies. Heather is a … This should be within 9 to 12 weeks after planting. You can choose cultivars for each of three harvest periods. New Potatoes. Chitting means arranging your seed potatoes in a cool, bright and frost free place to allow them to sprout. First early potatoes crop over a period of about 30 days. Also known as ‘new potatoes’, second early potatoes are delicious served buttered and garnished with a sprig of mint. Roasted, boiled, mashed or in a salad – no matter how you serve yours, they will always taste better dug out of your own garden. Second Early Potatoes. Early varieties are, unsurprisingly, the earliest to crop, and are subdivided into ‘first earlies’ that are ready as soon as the start of summer and ‘second earlies’ following on a couple of weeks later. Early potato varieties require 60 to 100 cool days to reach harvest. Super Early Potatoes . Harvest approximately 13 weeks from planting. Grow in bags, containers or in the ground. Grow from sprouting potatoes or seed potatoes, cut into chunks so that each piece has 2 growing "eyes," or sprouts. When to harvest new potatoes. SECOND EARLY POTATOES Second Early potatoes are really a cross between first early and maincrop potatoes. Second Early Seed Potatoes Plant Dobies second early seed potatoes between March and April for cropping in June and July. I usually plant the Second Earlies a couple of weeks after the First Earlies, so that they will be ready about a month later. Nicola, a second early variety, is another popular choice that continues to grow if harvested late. Planting first or second early potato varieties also enables you to harvest your crops before blight arrives in the summer. Continue harvesting early varieties in stages from this point on, leaving the … My other First Earlies will be probably Foremost — a delicious English variety with strong common scab resistance — and Rocket, a superb, high-yielding Scottish potato with good all-round disease resistance including common scab. They are planted early to mid April and should be ready to harvest in July and August. Harvest October onwards. For full details, see the growing guide. The potatoes should then be left for 2 to 3 weeks to allow the skin to harden so that they are able to store better. You can harvest tubers small as ‘new’ potatoes as soon as the plants begin to flower a couple of months after planting. Carlingford can also be used as a second cropping variety and planted in early August for harvesting near Christmas. The weather also plays a part. Plant mid to late April. Early maincrop potatoes are ready to harvest after 120-125 days Maincrop potatoes need between 125 and 140 days to mature Typically, first early potatoes are ready to lift in June or July, the second earlies are ready in July or August; maincrops can be harvested in August through to October. Harvest approximately 10 weeks from planting. Plant up from March to late May. First Early vs Second Early vs Maincrop Potatoes Potatoes are also categorised according to how long it takes the plants to reach harvest time. It’s grown commercially as Jersey Royal and, although technically an Early Maincrop, most — me included — harvest it as a First Early. One of the main things that can make or break your potato growing endeavors is timing. Second early potatoes will be ready to harvest … Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. They bridge the gap in harvesting times, maturing faster than maincrop but slower than first earlies. Maris Peer (not Maris Piper) is sometimes offered as a second crop variety but it’s quite second class in terms of yield and tuber size compared to Charlotte. These can be ready as soon as 10 to 12 weeks after planting. Main crop varieties are ready to harvest within 130-160 days. First early potatoes and second early seed potatoes are lower yielding than other seed potatoes. Plant early potatoes about 30cm (12in) apart with 40-50cm (16-20in) between the rows, and second earlies and maincrops about 38cm (15in) apart with 75cm (30in) between the rows. Notes. Usually, Yukon gold potatoes reach this size in late June or July, depending on your climate. ... You should be able to harvest early potatoes in the tunnel from early June onwards. New potatoes or Early potatoes are usually harvested in June or July these will have been planted in February or March and Maincrop potatoes are usually ready in September which will have been planted in April- May. Typically they take about 13 weeks from planting to harvest, whilst First Earlies take about 10. Allow approx 10-12 weeks to harvest. Early and second early potatoes have a short dormant period and will sprout earlier so keep for a shorter time than main crop cultivars; Propagation. Chitting. https://www.allotment-garden.org/.../harvesting-potatoes-guide Main crop varieties. Desired Harvest. First Early Potatoes. Many of the main potato growing problems arise because they have been planted too early, or too late. Maincrop – Time from planting till harvest: 135 days. You can get a idea of when to harvest potatoes when you see the flowers appearing on the plants. Depending on the size of potatoes you want at harvest, you might be able to get away with planting a little bit later in the year. Potatoes are generally grown from tubers known as 'seed potatoes'. “First early potatoes”—grow rapidly, take little space, and are harvested early to midsummer when they are about the size of an egg. The length of a potato’s growing season varies according to climate and variety. Potatoes can be classed as first earlies, second earlies, or maincrop. Harvest maincrop potatoes after the foliage has died back Harvesting Potatoes. « Reply #2 on: August 29, 2015, 09:52 » I dig mine up once all the leaves have died right back (about 3-4 weeks ago for me). Most early or second early potatoes can be second cropped but the easiest and most popular varieties are Carlingford and Charlotte. Small, new potatoes. Nadine tubers are round in shape with a clean, white skin and cream coloured flesh. Harvest "new" Yukon Gold potatoes as soon as the potatoes are at least 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. Re: When to harvest second early potatoes? Try different types with waxy texture, good with salads. For a link to our selection of Second Early Seed Potato varieties click here, otherwise read on. An excellent, firm potato for early cropping. Main crop potatoes are planted are little later, take longer to mature, but typically produce bigger potatoes. The variety Swift is a particularly early tuber that is well suited to this process. Both are excellent waxy salad potatoes. Follow our potato growing guide to plant Tui Certified Seed Potatoes in garden beds or containers, and you'll be harvesting a bumper crop of homegrown potatoes this season. Potatoes the size of ping-pong balls should be ready for harvesting around 10 to 11 weeks after planting. The old rule that you can harvest potatoes anytime after flowering doesn't hold true for earlies, as most are shy to flower. However, they must be protected from frost so it is worth covering them with a thick layer of straw and/or sacking. Let the cut pieces dry for a day before planting 3 inches deep. 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