Potatoes Turning Yellow, Dying

[GardenGeisha]

I planted potatoes in mid April here in Salt Lake City, Utah, and they looked beautiful for a long time, but some are turning yellow and the foliage is dying. Is it possible they could be mature this soon? My neighbor claimed they would not be ready to harvest until October?

Later planted potatoes are still green and nice. It is only the early ones that are yellowing.

Also, the farmers in the area irrigate the patch for me. I was wondering whether the yellow ones might be rotted, but I would think all of the potatoes would turn yellow if that were the case, not just the earliest planted ones?

How soon should I plan to try to see whether they are ready to harvest? One site said to wait until the foliage is totally dead, because the potatoes will keep growing underground until that time.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Why not dig one plant and see what is going on? I've already dug my potatoes.

 

[GardenGeisha]

I think I will. I sure hope they are not rotten. I planted them in a patch with manure, and I have read that can cause them to rot. I guess I'll just have to dig and find out.

 

[lesa]

I am sure they are fine. Just ready to harvest, would be my guess. Grab a shovel and get ready for some potatoes for dinner!

 

[digitS']

GardenGeisha, I learned a new word when I came back to growing potatoes: senescence - the organic process of growing older and showing the effects of increasing age.

I think the risky thing is to leave them in the ground with the irrigation still running on them regularly. Not only may there be decay problems but the new tubers may begin to sprout.

The early varieties that I grow begin to show their age about now and usually come out of the beds in July.

Steve

 

[catjac1975]

They sound like they are ready. I am in Massachusetts. Mine have not died back yet but they are ready to eat. I am zone 6.

 

[baymule]

The cycle of potatoes is plant, they grow like mad, they bloom, then they die back. Time to dig!!! And I plant my potatoes in lots of manure/compost because potatoes grow well in loose soil and lots of nutrients. Go dig! And start cooking some goodies!!

 

[GardenGeisha]

Thanks so much, Baymule!

Dug up one of my yellowed potato plants last night. I was sure the tubers would be rotted, but, no, they were perfect and delicious! Nothing beats new potatoes for flavor with their soft skins, boiled with fresh peas from the garden. I feel rich!

And to top that off, my neighbor let me onto a wild plum tree growing on the back property, over the fence. Mmmmm!!!!

Clare

 

[baymule]

Thanks so much, Baymule!

Dug up one of my yellowed potato plants last night. I was sure the tubers would be rotted, but, no, they were perfect and delicious! Nothing beats new potatoes for flavor with their soft skins, boiled with fresh peas from the garden. I feel rich!

And to top that off, my neighbor let me onto a wild plum tree growing on the back property, over the fence. Mmmmm!!!!

Clare

Give yourself a great big pat on the back!! Good for you! You are a master farmer growing your own food! Doesn't that feel great knowing what you ate came right out of your own garden? And you got wild plums too? Life is great!

 

[GardenGeisha]

That is so true, Baymule! Going to pick lettuce and arugula and chard this evening.