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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: caroline7758 on August 04, 2006, 16:44:47

Title: Potato berries
Post by: caroline7758 on August 04, 2006, 16:44:47
What does it mena if my potatoes have developed small green tomato-like "berries" above ground (where the flowers were)? Should I remove them?
Title: Re: Potato berries
Post by: Chantenay on August 04, 2006, 17:47:47
Hi - don't eat them, they are poisonous. You can leave them or remove I don't think it matters at this stage. I was taught to remove the flowers so the plant could concentrate its effort on the potatoes, rather than in producing the green berries.
Title: Re: Potato berries
Post by: valmarg on August 04, 2006, 19:25:06
I understand that tomatoes produce tubers in their root systems, which are also poisonous.  They are both members of the solanum (nightshade) family.

With regard to your potatoe berries, it you wand to dry them out and save the seed, and grow them.  The resulting crop of tubers would be seed potatoes, erm I think.

valmarg

Title: Re: Potato berries
Post by: saddad on August 05, 2006, 10:42:14
Those berries are potato"seed" and are used to develop new varieties but it is a complex process best left to someone else... eg Anya is a cross between Desiree and Pink Fir Apple, earlier than PFA but similar shape, not quite as tasy though!
;D
Title: Re: Potato berries
Post by: OllieC on August 05, 2006, 17:10:22
I've been tempted to try growing from these before, but apart from the fact that you're pretty unlikely to come up with something better than the breeders, you could in fact come up with a lethal spud which would be a bad thing. Although perhaps a good way to get rid of guests who outstay their welcome.