Potatoes V Garlic

[Artisan]

I have just noticed that in amongst my autumn planted garlic there are two potatoes just starting to show above ground. These potatoes would have been left over in the ground from the crop of first early – Swift I had grown there last year. Can anyone tell me if they will cause problems with my garlic plants that are due to be harvested in June? Should I remove the potatoes or can I wait and see what I get? It would be nice to have some bonus veg!

[Penellype]

The potatoes will grow and make more potatoes if you leave them where they are. How much they grow probably depends on whether they were reasonably sized or very small - a pea-sized potato will grow but probably won't give much of a crop. They may crowd out your garlic though - potatoes are big plants.

One important issue is blight. If your potatoes had blight last year than it will probably have overwintered on these and you should therefore remove them before they spread it about. If they didn't get blight they should be ok.

[bramble]

If you don't want to pull the potatoes out in case you disturb the garlic, cut the potato foliage down to the ground.

[AmateurOne]

I’ve got the same in one pot so interested in question and answers

[happyhumph]

Would have thought the potatoes would crowd out the garlic as said above - potatoes with large spreading foliage would out compete garlic with its long thin leaves for sunlight / space ?

[4Shoes]

Root it out.... It is a weed.

On the other hand, going down the forest garden route, everything in its place.

Its not a forest garden is it?

Root it out.