Vegetables: When should I dig up my one plant potatoes?

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hocasatown Portland, OR (Zone 8a) September 05, 2009 10:53 PM	I have never grown potato before, and I was happy to find one old potato I threw in the garden last year actually grew back this year and out of no where, there are potatoes all over around the plant. I didn't expect it to return and here it is, potatoes! I am excited to dig them but when should I dig them up? and How? I live in Portland and rain is coming soon so I don't want to leave them too long, they might rot. Really appreciate your help. View Larger
Jim41 Delhi, LA September 06, 2009 12:57 AM	If the plant has flowered and started to die back, it is time to pull it up. If it isn't dying back, I'd wait a while. You can scratch the new potatoes from around the plant and eat them now. Won't hurt the plant and leave the rest to mature.
LTilton Glen Ellyn, IL (Zone 5b) September 06, 2009 11:29 AM	But cover them up right away or they'll go green and be inedible!
hocasatown Portland, OR (Zone 8a) September 09, 2009 08:53 AM	I can't wait to dig them up to see how many potatoes there are underneath. Yes, the plant has something that looks like small round green fruits hanging on top and yes it's dying too. Should I cover them up with soil or newspaper? Thank you for your help!!!!
LTilton Glen Ellyn, IL (Zone 5b) September 09, 2009 10:56 AM	Just don't leave the tubers exposed to sunlight, it doesn't matter what you cover them with. As long as the plant is still green, it will keep producing more new potatoes.
hocasatown Portland, OR (Zone 8a) September 16, 2009 12:07 PM	Hi L Tilton, Thanks for your information. The plant looks like it's dying and here are the underground treasures that I dug up yesterday. One potato was exposed to sunlight as you can in the previous photo looks dark and green. Is it edible or should I toss? Thanks for your help!!! View Larger
LTilton Glen Ellyn, IL (Zone 5b) September 16, 2009 02:27 PM	Oh, yes, toss that green one. Don't eat the little green potato fruits, either.
Horseshoe Efland, NC (Zone 7a) September 18, 2009 06:05 PM	"Don't eat the little green potato fruits, either." Heheh, good point! I imagine one bite into the "little green potato fruits" (on the plants) probably would taste terrible, definitely letting one know 'these things don't belong in my mouth'! Yikes! As for the green-skinned potato itself, those can be peeled, cutting the green part off, and the rest is perfectly edible. Congrats, hocasatown, on your very first potato crop! Shoe
Jim41 Delhi, LA September 18, 2009 06:29 PM	Potatoe soup time in Portland.
hocasatown Portland, OR (Zone 8a) September 24, 2009 05:45 PM	Hi Jim, L & Shoe, Thank you, thank you! I am so excited about my surprised potato plant (like an unplanned child) and can't wait to eat them! I wonder what it tastes like? Waxy or Mealy? I would like to plant more potatoes for next year so do you have any recommendation on how and when in this little P-town with no sun? I have a very small backyard with limited sun (he he he), you know that - right? I am thinking Beef Stew instead.
Jim41 Delhi, LA September 24, 2009 08:22 PM	I really don't know what to tell you. I have no idea what your weather and temps are like in the spring. Down here some folks plant potatoes in Feb. I always plant in March. Even in March it takes a while for them to come up if the ground is cold. I would guess that you need to wait until the ground temps are about 50 degrees and you'll be ok. There is nothing quite like newly dug potatoes. Enjoy the ones you have.
dddal Eaton, IN September 25, 2009 09:09 AM	Hocasatown, you might want to contact Ronniger's Potato Farm. I've found that they are very good about helping with questions. Good luck, Donna
Horseshoe Efland, NC (Zone 7a) September 25, 2009 10:07 AM	hocasatown, the usual Spring planting time is 4-6 weeks before your last frost (or do ya'll even have frost in your zone?). It wouldn't hurt to break up your soil a week or two before you want to plant either. That will help dry it out from any Winter rains as well as allow it to warm up a bit. Shoe

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