Any Potato Farmers on board?

I've been planting spuds for only about 10 years now but this year I've seen a first.
I buy Kenebec potatoes for planting, cut them in half and the side with the most eyes get planted. Usually about 40 plants each summer.
This year I planted 40 hills and the remaining halves I just sat them in the garage and forgot about them. About a week later I noticed they had all started to sprout from eyes that I didn't see.
So not want to waste them I took them to camp and planted 10 hills there.
All plants flowered as usual and look healthy.
But I noticed on 2 of the plants at camp a growth where the flowers had been what can only be described as a tomato looking thing. These growths are about the diameter of a dime.
I've never seen it before. What the heck are they?

Due to a cool July apparently:

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/what_ar..._potato_plants

Thanks Sharon. That is exactly what I have.

Same family as a tomato, these are the seed pods, they do not always show up and they are not needed to grow potatoes but they are the seed.

Ours are just about ready to dig, the one type at least, I planted 40 foot rows, plants every foot and 3 different kinds.

Pototoe or potatoe? Tomatoe or tomotoe?

Sorry, just couldn't resist?

So, it seems the area where I planted potatoes many years ago, may have some tubers to dig up? I had some of these last year and the years before. I have raspberries there now, but I think I might dig them up this fall and replant the raspberries.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 35wailin

So, it seems the area where I planted potatoes many years ago, may have some tubers to dig up? I had some of these last year and the years before. I have raspberries there now, but I think I might dig them up this fall and replant the raspberries.

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Unless you see plants there is nothing worthwhile.

If you were to start potatoes inside like you do tomatoes you would probably have this fruit every year but the seasons mess this up.

I did not have any this year that I saw so far.

Our neighbour had a row or two of spuds in our garden last summer. This year we have potatoes in our beets, beans and carots, not to mention the ones we planted.....

What did you normally do with the other half of each potatoe? We cut in quarters as long as each piece has a few eyes. Drop 2-3 pieces in each hole. My wife is getting impatient for new spuds ....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by patvetzal

Our neighbour had a row or two of spuds in our garden last summer. This year we have potatoes in our beets, beans and carots, not to mention the ones we planted.....

What did you normally do with the other half of each potatoe? We cut in quarters as long as each piece has a few eyes. Drop 2-3 pieces in each hole. My wife is getting impatient for new spuds ....

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We missed a few as well, cut them up with the rototiller and each chunk had a new plant.

What I did this year was determine how many plants I wanted and cut up the potatoes so that I had the right number making sure I had 2-3 eyes on each section. I dug a trench and tossed in 1 chunk every foot or so, then I covered up the seed potato and hilled the entire thing, one long hill. I would not put any more than 1 chunk in a hole, no need, if you are putting 2-3 chunks in that hole you might as well just keep the seed part of the potato larger.

Sometimes if you have wet ground you will need to harden off the cut seed potato first but we have sandy loam and I cut them right before they go in the hole.

My grandparents used to just cut up unused spuds each spring so germination was not always 100%. They figured the chances were better with 2-3 pieces. We do the same now. Very seldom buy seed potatoes as long as we have some old ones around that actually show sprouts.
We have also tried the container system with mediocre results but have had good luck by leaving the 1/4s on the ground and covering with straw.

That makes sense, I think my seed potatoes cost me $15 for 120ft of potatoes this year and they all came up, all 120 plants.

I just bought a 10 lb bag and had more than enough for 40 hills. I actually planted 10 at camp that originally looked as though they had no eyes just on a whim and they all took right away.
One last question: Once the plant flowers and the flowers fall off, does an actual potatoe stop putting on size? I usually wait til the plant wilts before picking so that the skins are thicker.

HARVEST/STORAGE

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• Dig potatoes on a dry day. Dig up gently, being careful not to puncture the tubers. The soil should not be compact, so digging should be easy.
• New potatoes will be ready for harvest after 10 weeks, usually in early July.
• You should harvest all of your potatoes once the vines die (usually by late August), or the potatoes may rot.
• Make sure you brush off any soil clinging to the potatoes, then store them in a cool, dry, dark place. The ideal temperature for storage is 35 to 40°F.
• Do not store potatoes with apples; their ethylene gas will cause potatoes to spoil.
• Whether you dig your own potatoes or buy them at a store, don’t wash them until right before you use them. Washing potatoes shortens their storage life.
• Find more tips on getting potatoes ready for the root cellar.

From " The Old Farmers Almanac "

If you keep watering the potatoes after the flowers fall off, they will keep growing. The Kennebec are a large potato and are good for baking.

Roe+