Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Deano27 on June 04, 2008, 21:10

Title: potatoes falling over!
Post by: Deano27 on June 04, 2008, 21:10
half of my potato crop has totally fallen over, with the stems and leaves now lying on the soil.  i'm wondering if its to do with the massive amount of rain we've had recently.

(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm63/deanomcbeano/potato003.jpg)

you can just see from the pics the potatoes falling over to the right.
Title: potatoes falling over!
Post by: gobs on June 04, 2008, 21:19
Very possible, as they look a bit crowded and leggy and seem not to have been earthed up, also very near a tall fence, which  possibly shades them.

You should lose any broken stalks, etc and could give them some form of support.
Title: potatoes falling over!
Post by: peggyprice on June 04, 2008, 22:46
Looks a bit like something has been making a path through ...? :?
Title: potatoes falling over!
Post by: gobs on June 04, 2008, 22:56
Quote from: "peggyprice"
Looks a bit like something has been making a path through ...? :?


Yes, it also struck me mind... quite possible, too. :lol:  :lol:
Title: potatoes falling over!
Post by: vegmandan on June 05, 2008, 00:18
They do look a bit leggy,but if they do fall over they'll still keep on growing.

Just have a scrat about once they start to flower to see if you have any decent sized spuds.

I've got some growing in my polytunnel this year and they're almost 4ft tall and flopping over but there's plenty of spuds beneath.

So I wouldn't worry. :D
Title: potatoes falling over!
Post by: bb_odiham on June 05, 2008, 19:31
Yeah, just posted about the same thing:

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=18769

It does look like something had a big scrap in mine - no photos yet, but similar to yours.

The only difference in mine, is the bottom leaves on my plants are yellowed.
Title: potatoes falling over!
Post by: matthew6476 on June 05, 2008, 19:56
Mine have fallen over as well, but the flowers still seem to be about to open, and the plant is not dead looking at all, just having a rest. I guessed it was because of the weight of the plants.
Title: potatoes falling over!
Post by: noodledoo on June 05, 2008, 20:36
hi my potatoes look like this too ! Is there any harm in cutting them down? The stems that is ?
Title: potatoes falling over!
Post by: DD. on June 05, 2008, 20:42
Quote from: "noodledoo"
hi my potatoes look like this too ! Is there any harm in cutting them down? The stems that is ?


You'll rob the plant of it's food making equipment!
Title: potatoes falling over!
Post by: Trillium on June 05, 2008, 22:32
Looks like too much water or nitrogen, or both. Definitely need earthing up to support them.
Title: potatoes falling over!
Post by: DD. on June 05, 2008, 22:42
I don't like to say this, but the last time I saw haulms like that were a few years ago on the spuds in my back garden, after a good manuring.

There was nothing underneath. I hope this is not the case here!
Title: potatoes falling over!
Post by: peggyprice on June 06, 2008, 09:12
Quote from: "DD."
I don't like to say this, but the last time I saw haulms like that were a few years ago on the spuds in my back garden, after a good manuring.

There was nothing underneath. I hope this is not the case here!


I've been wondering about that; mine are growing in bags and there's LOADS of top growth but I have a sneaking suspicion there'll be nothing going on underneath.  Is there anything that can be done about it?
Title: potatoes falling over!
Post by: Trillium on June 06, 2008, 22:39
Not at this point. If you're watering a lot, cut back severely. If you're adding lots of fertilizer or manures, cut back as well. Spuds just like the initial good soil to start out in, then only some occasional water. Anything else creates the lush top growth at expense of bottom tubers.
You might get some small spuds this year but don't look for a large crop. Live and learn.  :wink: