During the five phases of potato growth, you’ve witnessed tiny sprouts popping up from the seed tubers, the roots taking hold, leaves and stems developing, and dainty flowers blossoming. New tubers appeared and bulked up, and now, 70 to 120 days after you planted your crop, the plant’s stems and leaves have died back, a sign that your potato crop has reached maturity.
It's time to dig in and harvest some spuds.
What You'll Need
Tools
- Shovel or spading fork
- Storage container
Supplies
- Potato plants
Toughen up the potatoes
Once mid-summer arrives, cut back on watering the potato plants until it’s time to harvest. Wait about two to three weeks after the vines and leaves have died and the blossoms have fallen off. Cut back or remove any remaining foliage.
These steps toughen up your tuber crop, allowing the skins to thicken so that they store well. In regions that often have wet weather in the fall, this step is especially important.
