A nonflowering potato plant means something is wrong with the plant ’s growing condition or care .
white potato ( Solanum tuberosum ) develop well anywhere within USDA plant hardiness zones 2 to 11 , where they are typically grow as annuals . They must be start up each year from humble piece of tuber called seed potatoes , which take roughly two month to flower .
Can you dig potatoes before they have flowered?
Potatoes do not need to flower for grow their starchy , comestible tubers . However , trouble with growing condition and care that can suppress flowering might also inhibit tuber product and should be fix whenever possible .
About Potato Flowering
Potatoes belong to the nightshade family , Solanaceae , which also includes common vegetable garden favorite , such as tomato plants ( Solanum lycopersicum ) and mad apple ( Solanum melongena ) . white potato works and tomato plant plants look very similar and acquire almost selfsame flowers , although potato plant typically bring forth whitened , pink or purple efflorescence , while tomato flowers are yellowed .
Potato plant flower typically look in mid - summer and then fall off , but sometimes the flowers will bring forth yield . Potato yield resemble lowly green cerise love apple , but they are very toxicant due to their high concentration of solanine and should be removed to prevent accidental intoxication .
Tip
Potato seeds contained within the fruit will stock , but the plant will not resemble the parent industrial plant .
Potato Plant Growing Conditions
expert growing conditions are full of life for maturate potatoes at home . get word what constitutes upright conditions will help you troubleshoot problems , such as a lack of blossoming in your potato plant .
Potato Plant Care
offer your potato plants with the ripe care throughout the grow time of year will aid further flower as well as a good potato crop .
Water Needs
murphy need plenty of water during the mature season to imprint flowers , leaves and tuber . Provide 1 inch of water each calendar week from establish time until the goal of their growing time of year , when the flora start to turn yellow and become flat back .
A 2 - column inch layer of mulch can help conserve grease wet and prevent focus to the plant .
Fertilizer Requirements
Potato plants are vigorous agriculturist that require wad of nutrient during the originate season . Amended grime will help leave a estimable base for your white potato vine , but fertilizing twice during the growing time of year will also help the industrial plant flower and produce tuber .
Feed with 10 - 0 - 10 fertilizer at a pace of 7 1/2 lbf. per 100 feet of rowing distance . Make the first program at planting time and the second program in midsummer .
Frost Protection
Potatoes that are implant early on in the season need a small bit of tribute from tardy spring icing to ensure dear bloom and tidy , strong growth . Late frost can also damage new growth on Irish potato plants , which can set back their genus Tuber production .
Cover your plants with a fabric words cover version , straw or warming fleece if a rime is forecasted . Remove the blanket as soon as potential after temperatures warm up .
Harvesting Potatoes
When you choose to glean potatoes reckon on what type of potatoes you want to eat .
newfangled Solanum tuberosum are the earliest crop that a potato plant life will produce . They are thin - skinned and delicate with a balmy flavor . raw white potato vine are reap when a potato plant is bloom , and a lack of bloom can make you miss out on this delicacy .
fledged potatoes are harvested at the end of the growing season at the main harvest prison term . Most home gardeners expect until the plant dies back , which is when the tubers of most potato varieties are the largest .
