When potatoes start flowering, it’s an exciting time in the garden. It means that the plant is healthy and thriving. However, it’s important to know what to do next to ensure a successful potato harvest.
1. Leave the flowers: The first thing to do when potatoes start flowering is to leave the flowers alone. While they may be beautiful, they are not edible. Instead, they are a sign that the potato plant is developing tubers underground.
2. Take a few tubers: Once the potato plant has started flowering, it’s a good time to check for tubers. Gently dig around the base of the plant and carefully lift a few potatoes from the soil. Be careful not to damage the plant or disturb the roots too much.
3. Don’t pull the plant: It’s important not to pull the entire potato plant out of the ground when harvesting tubers. The plant is still growing and will continue to produce more potatoes. Instead, carefully remove a few tubers and leave the rest to continue growing.
4. Hill the plant: After harvesting a few tubers, it’s a good idea to hill the potato plant. This means piling soil around the stem of the plant to encourage more tuber development. The additional soil helps protect the tubers from sunlight, which can cause them to turn green and become toxic.
5. Bury some leaves: As you hill the plant, feel free to bury some of the lower leaves. This helps to promote new root growth and encourages the plant to produce more tubers. Burying the leaves also helps to protect them from pests and disease.
6. Educate your children: If you have children, it’s important to teach them that the flowers on potato plants are not edible. This can help prevent any accidental ingestion of toxic flowers. Explain to them that the real treasure lies beneath the soil in the form of delicious potatoes.
When potatoes start flowering, it’s a sign of healthy growth. Leave the flowers, take a few tubers, but don’t pull the entire plant. Hill the plant by piling soil around the stem and bury some leaves to promote more tuber development. And most importantly, educate your children that the flowers are not edible. With these steps, you’ll be on your way to a successful potato harvest.
