Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Potato foliage

RubyLeafRubyLeaf Posts: 260
in Fruit & veg
Once the flowers have been and gone would it be okay for me to cut the foliage down by at least half? Its way too tall for the greenhouse and is flopping over. Had I known this I would of staked it better, but right now it'd be too difficult.

Posts

  • LauraRoslinLauraRoslin Posts: 496
    How big are your potato plants?!
    I wish I was a glow worm
    A glow worm's never glum
    Cos how can you be grumpy
    When the sun shines out your bum!
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Once the flowers have been and gone I'd be harvesting them as new potatoes ... or you can cut the foliage down and the potatoes skins will then begin to 'set' and they will store for longer when you dig hem up.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • RubyLeafRubyLeaf Posts: 260
    Dovefromabove said:
    Once the flowers have been and gone I'd be harvesting them as new potatoes ... or you can cut the foliage down and the potatoes skins will then begin to 'set' and they will store for longer when you dig hem up.  
    But if I cut the foliage down will the potatoes keep growing? Or by "set" do you mean they wont? :) 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    No, if you cut the foliage off the potatoes won't grow.  

    The RHS explains it like this

    Harvesting

    First early potatoes should be ready to lift in June and July, second earlies in July and August, maincrops from late August through to October.

    With earlies, wait until the flowers open or the buds drop; the tubers are ready to harvest when they are the size of hens' eggs.

    With maincrops for storage wait until the foliage turns yellow, then cut it and remove it. Leave for 10 days before harvesting the tubers, leaving them to dry for a few hours before storing.


    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/potatoes




    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





Sign In or Register to comment.