By Christhepuma
United Kingdom 
Hi
I planted some charlotte potatoes at the very end of July hoping to harvest for xmas.
The foliage has now completely died off and look like they may be ready for harvesting. I did have a rummage about and found an egg sized potato but didnt go any further.
My question is do i now harvest - or can they be left in the ground for another month?
thanks
chris
19 Nov, 2012
Answers
Hi, Thanks for this...
can i leave them in the ground in this state or do i have to dig them up - in essence will they rot if i just leave them for a few weeks longer?
thanks
chris
19 Nov, 2012
If you leave them too long they might get eaten by some creepy crawly, as the weather gets even more unpredictable.
19 Nov, 2012
I'd lift then Chris, you don't say where you are in the UK but we've already had frosts and potato tubers don't like being frosted. The potatoes will keep for a few weeks somewhere cool and dry and frost free.
19 Nov, 2012
I'd harvest now and accept that they will need eating before Christmas. We planted in August and have the same challenge. Once the foliage has died off the potatoes are extremely unlikely to get any bigger. We did it out of curiosity and wont bother again.
19 Nov, 2012