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does anybody else do this or am i wasting my time

There's been much on this on the forum recently - it is supposed to help. But I have no complaints about my crop & you can't compare year with year. Conditions are never the same

And I love the flowers!!

    

Quotei pick the flowers of my maincrop spuds for a better crop

Based on other plants it is said that you should avoid the plant/s 'setting seed'

To allow this means the plant has done its 'reproduction bit' so it stops all other functions.

In the case of potatoes, it is quite possible removing the flowers will prevent the true seed (tomato like growths) forming, meaning the plant keeps on growing until it does produce seed, meaning this time allows the tubers time to increase in size.

Having said that the plant does not produce more flowers like some other plants.

With potatoes the haulms start dying back instead and it then when you usually start lifting the tubers.

So personally I think it is an either/or thing added to which modern potatoes don't seem to produce 'seed' like they used to so they are more unlikely to go to seed, so picking the flowers off (in my opinion) is a bit of a waste of time.

So its a case of do what suits you best.

What I have found interesting about my spud crop is the three different varieties that I have growing are the difference in the foliage and the tats themselves :)

according to the 'potting shed' on sunday its not a good idea to remove the flowers.

I've never heard of this one before and I can see no benefit.  ???   :-\   ;D ;D ;D

Quote from: sawfish on June 23, 2008, 18:31:46
according to the 'potting shed' on sunday its not a good idea to remove the flowers.

Well don't stop there! "It's not a good idea to remove the flowers" because... ?

The reason I ask is all the old boys at my plots have told me to remove them but can't give me a definitive answer as to why other than "Because we always have done".

I wouldn't bother.

Apparently in our new ridiculous health and safety ridden times, the flower turns into a poisonous seed/fruit  which looks like a gob stopper and kids might eat it and become ill so no doubt the loony lefties will be classing Spuds as a weapon of mass destruction. ;D ;D ;D ;D

I hope that it works ... given that the pigeons on our site seem to have taken a liking for the flowers this year!

vegmandan

on the photo are you on the left or right?

They say owners look like their pets, is it the the same for prize veggies.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D