Homegrown Potatoes - tips, tricks, my experience this year

I planted 4 grow bags with 3 different types of potatoes. Last month, one bag had droopy and pretty dead plants so I harvested that - those were French fingerlings - and they were actually still growing under the dirt. I had never grown those before so it was definitely my mistake. Now that I know... I would try growing them again next year with a note "DO NOT HARVEST UNTIL LATE SEPTEMBER." 

This week I harvested my bag of Yukon Golds. These potatoes are more golf ball size - I think I could've waited another week but I really wanted some Shepherd's Pie so I harvested a little early. The potatoes were on the smaller side, but I was just going to mash them up anyway. 

This year I left my grow bags in the front yard where it gets full sun - well over 8 hours per day - but also in a spot that was easier to water. I had been planting potatoes in grow bags in the driveway on the other side of the fence because we have Phil the dog who pees on everything and I don't want to eat dog pee potatoes. To water the grow bags in the driveway, I also need to haul the hose to other side of the fence, with a dog trying to get loose and terrorize the whole alleyway looking for chipmunks. I think in the end, placing the grow bags in the front yard worked well, but the growing season is definitely LONGER than what I want/need for growing potatoes. By September 1, I'm ready for all the roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, french fries, crispy potatoes for breakfast hash. And truly, potatoes aren't ready for harvest until closer to October, and depending on the variety - mid-to-late October. I'm ok with that, I would just prefer my Autumn season to start on September 1. But the  Autumnal Equinox is September 21 so I'm going to have to wrap my mind around that every year instead and aim for potatoes in October. The weather has also aligned more with the Eqinox in the past few years with the hot summer weather sticking around until late September.

Next year my plan is to do potatoes in grow bags again, in the front yard, with the following varieties:

Yukon Gold

French fingerlings - Princess Laratte variety

Carla Rosa (more of a pink variety)

Harvest Moon (these are purple)

Here's my Shepherd's Pie. It's really easy to google a recipe but here's my vague outline of how I make Shepherd's Pie. Make your mashed potatoes (potatoes, butter, heavy cream, roasted garlic, cheese, salt, pepper). Make your meat & veggie filling (beef/lamb/pork/chicken; pan-made gravy with butter, flour, stock; onion, carrots, peas, seasonings with herbs, salt & pepper). Smooth the mashed potatoes over the filling in a shallow dish; bake at 425 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Happy potato harvesting!!