In most cases, flowers on your plants are great, but potatoes are different.
Removing flowers from potato plants actually helps your harvest.
Let's find out, why you should do that.
Promote Tuber Development
Potatoes are primarily grown for their underground tubers, which are the edible part of the plant.
By removing the flowers, you redirect the plant's energy and resources towards tuber development rather than flower and seed production.
This can result in larger and more abundant potato yields.
Prevent Self-Seeding
Allowing potato plants to produce flowers and subsequently set seeds can result in self-seeding.
This means that the seeds can fall into the soil and germinate, leading to the growth of new potato plants in unexpected areas.
Removing the flowers helps prevent this self-seeding and allows you to have better control over where your potato plants grow.
Extend Growing Season
Removing the flowers can extend the growing season of potato plants.
When flowers are allowed to develop into seed pods, the plant's energy is diverted towards seed production, which can signal the end of the plant's life cycle.
By removing the flowers, you encourage the plant to continue vegetative growth and tuber development for a longer period, maximizing the yield potential.
