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Potato mystery

HeartinthedirtHeartinthedirt Posts: 300
in Fruit & veg
Just noticed a couple of these on my main crop plants. Anyone know what they are?

It's knowing what to do with things that counts - Robert Frost

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited August 2022
    They are the fruit of the potato plant containing seeds. You can see how they are from the same family as the tomato. 
    However a big difference is that potato fruits are poisonous so keep them away from small children who might make a mistake … or you can simply remove the flowers and fruits from your potato plants. 

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





  • HeartinthedirtHeartinthedirt Posts: 300
    Thanks @Dovefromabove, I did do a little double-take when I first saw it, wondering why there was a tomato on me spuds!
    And duly noted on the poison, no mippers here at the mo though. Presume it's OK to just pull them off and bin them? 
    It's knowing what to do with things that counts - Robert Frost
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Yep pull/snip em off. Some gardeners remove the flowers anyway on the theory that the plant will put more energy into producing tubers if the flowers are removed. My brother grows hundreds of acres of potatoes and he laughs at that idea so I don’t bother. Mind you, the thought of walking his fields snipping off the flowers is mind boggling anyway 😂 

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





  • pinutpinut Posts: 194
    Cut the fruit in half and scoop out the seeds. They will be true potato seeds and you can sow them next year.

    If you manage to grow a plant with unique characteristics, say, one that produces stripey tubers then you will get the honour of naming it.


  • HeartinthedirtHeartinthedirt Posts: 300
    pinut said:
    Cut the fruit in half and scoop out the seeds. They will be true potato seeds and you can sow them next year.

    If you manage to grow a plant with unique characteristics, say, one that produces stripey tubers then you will get the honour of naming it.


    Oh I am all over that idea! 😃
    It's knowing what to do with things that counts - Robert Frost
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It will only work if the fruits are left to ripen on the plant of course. 😊 

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





  • HeartinthedirtHeartinthedirt Posts: 300
    edited August 2022
    Just found some useful info 
    https://www.cultivariable.com/potato-what-you-should-know-about-fruits-on-your-potato-plants/
    It's knowing what to do with things that counts - Robert Frost
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