Potatoes

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RxAngel Stratford, TX(Zone 6b) Aug 28, 2010

I've never done potatoes before, but I had one vine die, and dug the taters out. They were still pretty small. This was a couple of weeks ago.

Now my remaining vines are not looking good (except the one I have in a pot), and one seems to be pretty far gone. I live in extreme SW Kansas. When is potato harvest time? If it isn't time, why are my plants dying? The leaves look like they shrivel up and fall off, and it isn't the same look as a wilted or heat-stressed plant (which, this time of year, mine are).

Should I just dig up what I have and chalk it up to experience, or are they salvagable?

Thanks -

Angie

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altagardener Calgary, AB(Zone 3b) Aug 28, 2010

Potato harvest time IS when the plants die off... it's perfectly normal. Did you plant a variety that should produce large potatoes or small potatoes?

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RxAngel Stratford, TX(Zone 6b) Aug 29, 2010

Please don't laugh....too hard, anyway! I have no idea what I planted. It was late, my goat had eaten most of my garden for the third time, and I was just grabbing anything I thought I would still have time for! We have a much shorter growing season here than most folks do!

I think these were just regular, medium sized potatoes. I got full potato sets and sliced them up. My goat missed 4 of the dozen set out...he has ADD and must have moved on to the cabbages before he ate all the potato sets (this was the fourth and final time he ate the garden, and no, we are not having gyros for supper...we just finally fixed the fence...again...long story but we bought an abandoned farmhouse and needless to say it and the outbuildings and fences need work...) What were we thinking? :)

Thanks!

Angie

Post #8069357
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kwanjin (Zone 7a) Aug 29, 2010

I'm sorry. I DID laugh! The picture in my head of your goat eating your plants got the better of me. ^_^

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altagardener Calgary, AB(Zone 3b) Aug 29, 2010

So, dig 'em up and see what you got.
Have you dug potatoes before? Dig immediately under the plant and also around it, and go fairly deep so as not to miss any. Then allow the skins to dry thoroughly before storing them in a cool, dark place.

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