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Trimming potato plants

kateramsey6290kateramsey6290 Posts: 7
in Fruit & veg
Hello, I was just wondering if it is ok to trim potato plants while they are growing, mine are growing very tall and was wondering if it is ok to trim the tops off or will it affect the potato crop? 

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    The tops are providing food to grow the tubers below, so any leaves you remove will inevitably reduce the number and/or size of your crop.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    You can hill up the dirt to make the tops a bit more stable.. or even put a tomato cage or wire hop around them, if they are flopping over onto plants near by.  

    Why do you want to prune them?
    Utah, USA.
  • kateramsey6290kateramsey6290 Posts: 7
    Blue Onion said:
    You can hill up the dirt to make the tops a bit more stable.. or even put a tomato cage or wire hop around them, if they are flopping over onto plants near by.  

    Why do you want to prune them?
    The only reason is that they are tall. 
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    They naturally get a reasonable height.  Does your potato spot get full sun?  They might get extra tall if they are heavily shaded, looking for sunlight.
    Utah, USA.
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    How tall is tall? Mine normally make it to a bit over my knees if they are heading up to your waist then you may need to have them in a sunnier spot.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Are you earthing them up as they grow?
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