We have two potato beds, mostly Red Pontiacs but some are Yukon Gold. We planted a little late. They are doing great and started to blossom this week.

We are most interested in little potatoes for cooking.

About how long after blossom should we wait to try to dig some? In the past I have waited till the plants died and have gotten some really nice potatoes, but they were big enough we had to cut them down for frying or left them whole for baking. More than half of our seed potatoes were Red Pontiacs I saved from last year and they seem to be doing great.

Thanks!

Moosetrot

Pick a plant and see where they are size wise for you
I like taking a few while the blossoms are still on
The skins are so thin that you can rub them off with a finger
Sweet potatoes are the same

We start digging about 3 weeks after blooms on Yukons, reds are a little slower here. Lots of small potatoes but that’s how we like them.

3-4 weeks for us. We don’t get much warm and dry weather, though.

I have 75 hills of all red pontiacs. Mine are just starting to flower this week. I will take about 10-15 hills starting in mid-August for smaller potatoes. I let the rest harden up for longer storage and usage. I planted Yukons for many years and just could never get the yields I do from the Pontiacs, so the last two years that is all I have been planting. Years ago I planted Norlands for my early baby reds.

Bryce

I like to put new potato's (small) about half and half with green beans. Half slice of bacon in the bottom of the jar when canning.

I let the plant die off. Then pick. When in doubt, carefully dig and check things out.