and it's not even technically summer yet.

Tomatoes are nowhere in sight yet. Mortgage Lifter has
flowers.

As far as the potatoes go, any hints on when you know
to look for little potatoes? I'm hoping to harvest
when they're pretty small.

nancy

On Sun, 19 Jun 2016 13:48:18 -0400, Nancy Young
> wrote:

>and it's not even technically summer yet.
>
>Tomatoes are nowhere in sight yet. Mortgage Lifter has
>flowers.
>
>As far as the potatoes go, any hints on when you know
>to look for little potatoes? I'm hoping to harvest
>when they're pretty small.
>
>nancy

sometime after they bloom, when the tops begin to die back. You can
dig around with your hand and filch a few as you want to eat them.
Otherwise wait until the tops die back and dig before frost.
Janet US

On 6/19/2016 2:31 PM, Janet B wrote:
> On Sun, 19 Jun 2016 13:48:18 -0400, Nancy Young

>> As far as the potatoes go, any hints on when you know
>> to look for little potatoes? I'm hoping to harvest
>> when they're pretty small.

> sometime after they bloom, when the tops begin to die back. You can
> dig around with your hand and filch a few as you want to eat them.
> Otherwise wait until the tops die back and dig before frost.

Oh, okay, I have to wait all summer? Got it.

nancy

On Sun, 19 Jun 2016 14:36:17 -0400, Nancy Young
> wrote:

>On 6/19/2016 2:31 PM, Janet B wrote:
>> On Sun, 19 Jun 2016 13:48:18 -0400, Nancy Young
>
>>> As far as the potatoes go, any hints on when you know
>>> to look for little potatoes? I'm hoping to harvest
>>> when they're pretty small.
>
>> sometime after they bloom, when the tops begin to die back. You can
>> dig around with your hand and filch a few as you want to eat them.
>> Otherwise wait until the tops die back and dig before frost.
>
>Oh, okay, I have to wait all summer? Got it.
>
>nancy
Not necessarily. I don't know where you live, but they should start
to bloom soon. Wait until they are done blooming and begin to look a
bit sad. Then you can sneak your hand down around the plants and see
what you can find and fish a few out. Otherwise, probably September
if you have left any to develop. The developing potatoes are little
nodules on the underground stem.(s). Whatever you pick off, there
will still be more developing. Just remember that your plants will
probably begin to die off around September so if you want any babies
to develop fully, that is your deadline. You should get a feel for it
if you put your hand in the soil a couple of times. My potatoes in a
pot are really big plants now and just beginning to develop flower
buds. I'll try to keep you posted as I go along. I planted two kinds
of potatoes. Large red ones in the bottom layer and small fingerlings
in the top layer. I've never tried the fingerlings before. I'll let
you know. Have fun
Janet US

On 6/19/2016 4:05 PM, Janet B wrote:
> On Sun, 19 Jun 2016 14:36:17 -0400, Nancy Young
> > wrote:

>> Oh, okay, I have to wait all summer? Got it.

> Not necessarily. I don't know where you live, but they should start
> to bloom soon.

This is an unexpected development, I wasn't aware they'd flower.
It's got a lot of nice foliage but nothing that looks like flowers.
I'll be keeping an eye on them. I wasn't expecting potatoes yet.

> Wait until they are done blooming and begin to look a
> bit sad. Then you can sneak your hand down around the plants and see
> what you can find and fish a few out. Otherwise, probably September
> if you have left any to develop. The developing potatoes are little
> nodules on the underground stem.(s). Whatever you pick off, there
> will still be more developing. Just remember that your plants will
> probably begin to die off around September so if you want any babies
> to develop fully, that is your deadline. You should get a feel for it
> if you put your hand in the soil a couple of times. My potatoes in a
> pot are really big plants now and just beginning to develop flower
> buds.

Cool! I live in NJ, Zone 7A.

> I'll try to keep you posted as I go along. I planted two kinds
> of potatoes. Large red ones in the bottom layer and small fingerlings
> in the top layer. I've never tried the fingerlings before. I'll let
> you know. Have fun

Thank you, I'll watch for the updates. This is my new little
adventure this year.

nancy

In article >,
says...
>
> and it's not even technically summer yet.
>
> Tomatoes are nowhere in sight yet. Mortgage Lifter has
> flowers.
>
> As far as the potatoes go, any hints on when you know
> to look for little potatoes? I'm hoping to harvest
> when they're pretty small.

New potatoes can start when the plants begin to flower. Don't pull
them up yet; just fossick about underneath to see if there's a picking
yet. My "Nadine" potatoes should be ready any day now. "Jersey
Royals" haven't flowered yet.

Janet UK

On 6/19/2016 6:24 PM, Janet wrote:
> In article >,
> says...

>> As far as the potatoes go, any hints on when you know
>> to look for little potatoes? I'm hoping to harvest
>> when they're pretty small.
>
> New potatoes can start when the plants begin to flower. Don't pull
> them up yet; just fossick about underneath to see if there's a picking
> yet.

I understood what fossick means from the context, but I looked
it up anyway. Strangely to me, the online Oxford says that's an
Australian or New Zealand word. Anyway, thanks for the new word.

> My "Nadine" potatoes should be ready any day now. "Jersey
> Royals" haven't flowered yet.

Wow, you must have planted them very early, and it's not as if
you're in a tropical climate.

Thanks very much for the advice, I appreciate it.

nancy