[Marijke Jones]

Dear gardeners,

I was watching an episode of Marcus Waring where he visited a potato farmer. The farmer said that if you cut the potato plant back when flowering because it will make the potato stronger and they get better skins. I grow my potatoes in bags so not on a grand scale like the farmer and had a good crop so is it necessary to cut them back?

[greenjay]

I leave mine until I get blight and then have to cut. I think if you cut them a week or so before lifting for storing the skins thicken. If they are still green leaved they are still growing in my opinion.


The longer they are left the greater chance of slug damages as I am finding out.

[AnneB]

I don't bother, it makes si little difference it isn't worth bothering with.
I found this article about whether or not to remove flowers.
I wouldn't cut the plants back, it needs the green bit to grow.

https://www.growlikegrandad.co.uk/allotment/sowing-growing-allotment/should-you-remove-potato-flowers-and-or-their-fruits.html

[Odders]

All I ever do is nip off the flowers/buds when I see them, on the grounds they must use energy which could otherwise go into tubers.
I've absolutely no evidence it makes a difference, but after 50 years of doing so, I'll not stop now.

[mumofstig]

Despite what  Marcus Waring says, most farmers don't cut off potato flowers, as it makes no appreciable difference to the yield, but increases their work & costs.....
Flowering usually indicates that tubers are beginning to fatten up beneath the soil, so if you cut the tops off then, you'll only have small sized tubers....perhaps that is what Marcus/you want, for salads?
If you want them a normal size or  main-crop potatoes for storing, leave them until the top growth dies back, before digging.