Early potatoes take approx 12 weeks from planting to having usable potatoes, main crop 14 - 16 weeks. As you have them in a planter work your hand down and see if you can find any reasonable size potatoes and simply remove enough for a meal.

Thanks Moon growe :0)
I put my hand down in the compost and found the soil quite dry, so gave them a good water and will feel about in a weeks time, there were some but I'll let them grow a little bigger.

Growing potatoes in bags means you have to be very vigilant with watering. Potatoes grown in soil that is too dry tend to break up when cooked as they absorb too much water. Only way round that is to steam them.

Oh! Thanks for that bit of info :o)

Hi Ladyessex, my old encyclopaedia of gardening reckons that potatoes are ready for harvesting when" The Leaves being free from disease turn yellow; the period will vary with the sort and district".

Joy Larkcom in her book "Grow your own Vegetables" says for barrels or tubs: harvest when plants flower and carefully poke inside barrel to check when tubers are a reasonable size.

Only problem with this is not all varieties flower.

I have to keep referring to my trusty books, as I am a novice in the veg patch, and having a small garden most of my veg is grown in pots, bags etc.

Joy Larkcom's book is a very useful book to have on the bookshelf, the information and advice is easy to follow and understand.

Enjoy your potatoes.

Grannyb

Thanks Grannyb :o)
Between both repleys I should be ok now. :o) :o)