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Growing potatoes
Sam Patamia
Posts: 15
in Fruit & veg
I am growing them for the first time and just need to know whether it is ok to cut back the potato plants before they flower? I have read that flowering is not related to the production of the potatoes. They are getting very big and I can't earth up anymore can I cut the tops off?
0
Posts
Just let the tops grow. The leaves produce the food to make the tubers swell.
When the plants flower, the tubers are swelling .You can cut just the flowers off if you want, but most people say it makes no difference. If you have kids it stops them thinking they are green tomatoes.
Do not cut anything off the plants it is neither necessary or advisable.
If they are an early or second early variety, flowering usually means they are ready. To be sure scrape away some soil to establish size of tubers. Do not cut the tops down, just discard when you are ready to lift the plant.