Potato flowers

[Dynamo]

My potato's are just coming into bloom. I'd like to know what the concensus is regarding letting them bloom or removing them. It sounds reasonable to me that if I removed them I'd get a larger crop, but that might not be the case. I think I'd like them to stay on to attract more bees to my garden.

[ameno]

Makes no difference.
Most potatoes won't produce fruit, anyway, end even if they do, half a dozen marble-sized fruits will not impact the crop.

[Jungle Jane]

I always remove the flowers,I read a study about it ages ago & with my experience I do believe it does improve yield,which is why I do it. It makes sense for the leaves to give energy to the tubers rather than the flowers.

[Dorothyrouse]

I’m just harvesting my ‘ new potatoes, cooking and eating them, just delicious

[annie8]

Interesting I have never thought of removing the flowers from my potatoes. Might try it just to see.

[quanglewangle]

May be worth removing flowers if you have children or pets who are prone to eat the fruits, which are toxic due to high level of the alkaloid solanine.

I gather they taste pretty awful but that may not put all children off: when young my daughter would merrily chomp on under-ripe gooseberries.