Spud flowers

[Ger-annie-um]

Is it true that, if you take the flowers off potato plants they will produce better spuds. The rationale is supposed to be the plant then puts more energy into the fruit instead of flowers/setting seed.

Willing to give it a go but not if it will be to the detriment of what looks like, at the moment, a lovely crop.

[Mikey]

Thats a new one on me, I've never stopped my spuds from flowering, I've always used it as a signal that they are nearing pulling, though not all varieties flower.

Whether they would create a better yield without flowering is questionable, when you compare the amount of flower to plant or root it wouldn't appear to be a major effort for the plant. Compare it with an onion seed head or a carrot flower both clearly have an effect on the root.

Are you going to run an experiment?

[darcyvuqua]

I have been pulling all flowers off for the same reason as I have seen it being done on YouTube I have has a ruffle around and there seem to be a lot more potatoes to the first crop I got but will have to wait until harvest time

[poly]

I don't know how much difference taking the flowers off would make, it would be interesting to know. I'm pretty sure farmers don't go round pinching them out so it can't be big. I've never removed mine, I can understand people removing the fruits if they have children. But I think the flowers are much too pretty to think of taking off and look forward to fruits setting so I've some more TPS (True Potato Seeds) to save and grow

[darcyvuqua]

I don't know how much difference taking the flowers off would make, it would be interesting to know. I'm pretty sure farmers don't go round pinching them out so it can't be big. I've never removed mine, I can understand people removing the fruits if they have children. But I think the flowers are much too pretty to think of taking off and look forward to fruits setting so I've some more TPS (True Potato Seeds) to save and grow

I have two identical rows same amount of seed potatoes same variety one row I have pulled flowers off one have been left!

I think flower from potato plants are one of the best you well see from vegetables

This flower is from my early crop

[poly]

I have two identical rows same amount of seed potatoes same variety one row I have pulled flowers off one have been left!

Nice one

Lovely coloured flowers, what variety of spuds are they?

[solway cropper]

It's just another of those silly old bits of 'gardening lore'.

Anyway, I rather like the flowers and so do the insects.

[darcyvuqua]

Nice one

Lovely coloured flowers, what variety of spuds are they?

These are pentland javelin

[poly]

Yum, love Pentland Javelin Pretty sure the flowers should be white on them, at least they are on mine

[rustylady]

I've grown Pentland Javelin this year too, lovely spuds, had some for dinner last night. My flowers were the same colour as Darcy's. I googled and found that the flowers are supposed to be white ??????????

[darcyvuqua]

I've grown Pentland Javelin this year too, lovely spuds, had some for dinner last night. My flowers were the same colour as Darcy's. I googled and found that the flowers are supposed to be white ??????????

Really that's shocked me there are only pentland javelin in this bed so that's really strange

In fact this is the only bed of potatoes on my plot there are Maris piper on my small plot and the flowers are light pink

[rustylady]

Can you remember where you got your seed potatoes from Darcy? I think mine may have been from Wilkinsons or the Pound Shop.

[Bren In Pots]

I've had flowers on my Aaron Pilot for the first time lovely pink ones.

[darcyvuqua]

Can you remember where you got your seed potatoes from Darcy? I think mine may have been from Wilkinsons or the Pound Shop.

Mine were indeed from the pound shop!

[rustylady]

Ahaaa - maybe they're not actually Pentland Javelin then? (any flowers I get from Pound Shop seem to turn out pink, whatever colour it says they should be on the packet)

Whatever they are, they're lovely potatoes.