Because of the short growing season, early potatoes are extremely popular with hobby gardeners. However, there is often uncertainty about when the potatoes should be harvested and how to proceed correctly.

Early potatoes are harvested when the leaves are still green and strong

The harvest begins in June

Many potato varieties are pulled from the ground when the herb withers and dies. The reason: Only then are the tubers mature and can be stored for a longer period of time.

It's different with new potatoes. These come on the table very young and tender and you can dig them up while the leaves are still green.

For very early varieties, the harvest season begins at the end of June. You can get early varieties from the ground from the beginning of August.

The right harvest time

There are several clues you can use to tell when potatoes are ready to harvest:

  • The blossom: The typical aroma only develops after flowering, which is why potatoes harvested too early have a watery taste.
  • About two months after you put the seed potatoes in the ground, you can start harvesting.

The shelf life of new potatoes

New potatoes are often eaten with the skin on, as this is very tender and pleasantly emphasizes the potato aroma. However, the skin hardly protects the tubers, which is why new potatoes can be stored for a maximum of two weeks.

Therefore, harvest the potatoes as soon as possible before consumption and only in the required quantity.

Are unripe, very young harvested potatoes poisonous?

No, they are not. Small potatoes, because they were taken out of the ground too early, are at best less aromatic, but not inedible.

Only potatoes with green spots, such as those that can result from incorrect storage, are problematic. These contain solanine, should be sorted out and thrown away. However, if the tubers have the typical color of the variety, potatoes that have been harvested too early can be eaten without hesitation.

Advance the harvest time

You can harvest potatoes even earlier by forcing the tubers forward:

  • Start sprouting the early potatoes from February.
  • For this purpose, place the tubers loosely in fruit boxes.
  • Put the potatoes in a bright place where the temperature does not drop below ten degrees.

As soon as it is frost-free, place the advanced tubers in the ground. Make sure that the sprouts don't break off. Cover the potato patch with a warm fleece or a thick layer of straw.

tips

Potatoes should only be fertilized very sparingly with nitrogen, since this nutrient causes the tubers to "shoot into the weeds" and thus increases the susceptibility to late blight.

Category:

Vegetable garden