Picking New Potatoes

[bobbi-j]

As I was weeding the potato patch the other day, I gently felt around a few potato plants and found some nice-sized new potatoes. So I "robbed" the plant by just picking the potatoes that were there and left the plant alone. I don't think it was disruptive to the plant, but DH thinks I may have killed the plants by disturbing the roots too much. The potatoes were just under the surface of the dirt, I was careful and didn't yank them out. I hope they'll be OK. Any opinions on this? Does anyone else rob their potato plants while they're still producing?

 

[lesa]

You won't kill the plant- the only issue is you will have less when you do actually harvest. New potatoes are the best! Enjoy!

 

[bobbi-j]

I don't have a great place to store them for any length of time, anyway, so that's not too much of an issue. I'd rather eat fresh new potatoes throughout the summer anyway. You're right - they're the best!

 

[digitS']

I used to have the good fortune to talk with an Idaho potato specialist a few times each year.

When I asked her about robbing the plants, she said that it shocks the plants and they tend to stop growing. It took awhile to take this to heart because new potatoes are awfully well appreciated around here !

It finally became real apparent to me that it was best for me not to rob a potato or 2 from multiple plants. A month later, the remaining potatoes from those plants will be smaller than from the plants that were left alone. So . . . I finally took the step of just pulling 1 plant and using all the new potatoes there. If we run out of those, I'll pull another plant. The ones that remain in the garden (after these raids ) will be able to grow out their time there, untouched.

. . . my 2.

Steve

 

[Dascountry]

Thats what I do.....stick with robbing just a few plants and leave the rest alone until ready to harvest.

 

[baymule]

New potatoes are irrisistable! Yup, rob away, but just one plant at a time.

 

[bobbi-j]

Oh... I guess I'll try to wait, then. Or next time, mark the ones I've robbed so I don't traumatize ALL of them! It's good to know so I don't ruin my whole harvest. Thank you all for the information. It's very helpful.