Flowers certainly seem optional for mine. :) The website where I bought my seed potatoes shows flowers for the particular kind I planted. All I got were some buds that never opened. But it's ok, because I'm still getting potatoes.

Duajones-I'm just excited to see potential flowers. The two comments are totally unrelated. Sorry if I caused any confusion or worry.

[URL="http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/photos/v/memberphotos/morgan/spring2007/CIMG2200-potatoes29-red.jpg.html"] [IMG]http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/photos/d/3987-2/CIMG2200-potatoes29-red.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL="http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/photos/v/memberphotos/morgan/spring2007/CIMG2200-potatoes29-red.jpg.html"]PINK potatoes! :)[/URL]

[URL="http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/photos/v/memberphotos/morgan/spring2007/CIMG2204-potatoes32-red.jpg.html"] [IMG]http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/photos/d/3983-2/CIMG2204-potatoes32-red.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL="http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/photos/v/memberphotos/morgan/spring2007/CIMG2204-potatoes32-red.jpg.html"]Plus Straight Eight Cucumber[/URL] -- harvested from 4 square feet of garden space

[URL="http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/photos/v/memberphotos/morgan/spring2007/CIMG2202-potatoes31-red.jpg.html"] [IMG]http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/photos/d/3985-2/CIMG2202-potatoes31-red.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL="http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/photos/v/memberphotos/morgan/spring2007/CIMG2202-potatoes31-red.jpg.html"]The Spent Seed Potato[/URL]

If I had it to do over, I would definitely do more hilling and plant deeper, and fewer plants in the same area. I may also cull multiple sprouts off of 1 potato down to 2. When I pulled up the seed potato with 5 plants off of it, it had the smallest harvest of them all.

Now that I've got the potato bug -- NOT THAT POTATO BUG -- I want to grow more varieties!! :)

They look great, Feldon! :D My first little leaf just popped up yesterday from Russian Banana. And then there were two more leaves this morning. I guess once it starts, the process moves along pretty quickly.

I also did not wait for the plants to yellow and wilt. I figured I'd harvest a 4' worth and see what's under there. I can probably wait until it gets hot (May 1st-15th or so) which lowers the quality of the potatoes.

Nice work Feldon! The foliage on my potato plants are beginning to look bad, so I may be dumping that can pretty soon. I can only hope its contents will be a pleasant surprise.

Very nice, Feldon! I'm still trying to figure out how long I should wait to pull my potatoes.. you're making me anxious :P

Your potatoes are very inspiring, Feldon. Thanks for posting the pics.

I am thinking I have huge room for improvement. 2-3 potatoes per seed potato sounds paltry to me.

Great Pics....Feldon...u Learned somethin.....too.

You Had....some good spuds underway...they sho are Good tastin, if we pull up a few that size...but you can grow some Market Keepers, by hillin an Patience.

Learnin...is the Fun of the Game...))) My potato bed here is so whacked out now, i caint even tell ya...what kinds we have growin in it. but i do know this...they are Flourishin...and...its jus a hillin an Waterin game...now.

Growin potatos...is a Joy...i place it akin to a Child's wonder in growin a Radish. There are many people that state...that growin a potato, somehow...Purifies the soil. I know this...when i see the big fat earthworms bein Happy...upon inspection...i Have to believe that...)))

Hill...at Will...)))

[quote=feldon30;55744]If I had it to do over, I would definitely do more hilling and plant deeper, and fewer plants in the same area. I may also cull multiple sprouts off of 1 potato down to 2. When I pulled up the seed potato with 5 plants off of it, it had the smallest harvest of them all.[/quote]

And you said earlier that you got a late start as well; that almost surely made a difference. I think it's early Feb in your area. Even in Ft Worth, I started mid-Feb (and protected tops from frost if need be).

I'm not sure about removing multiple sprouts; never heard of anyone doing that. Did you see this suggested somewhere? But then I'm no potato guru, maybe someone will weigh in on this.

[quote=feldon30;55744]Now that I've got the potato bug -- NOT THAT POTATO BUG -- I want to grow more varieties!! :)[/quote]

Heck, you've got me wanting to grow some potatoes now. Maybe in the fall.

Suze...a potato eye that shoots up one, ....or 2 ...sprouts...will make...a Large tuber (s)...if it throws up 5 or 6, then they all gonna sorta compromise w/each other, except in Optimum growing condition, and the yield will be Numerous, yet small in size.

5 or 6 shoots aint bad...if the growin Medium can support it. But in average situations, 2 or 3 shoots...will give a Happy Yield, an some Nice ones...)))

[quote=Gimme3;55835]Suze...a potato eye that shoots up one, ....or 2 ...sprouts...will make...a Large tuber (s)...if it throws up 5 or 6, then they all gonna sorta compromise w/each other, except in Optimum growing condition, and the yield will be Numerous, yet small in size.

5 or 6 shoots aint bad...if the growin Medium can support it. But in average situations, 2 or 3 shoots...will give a Happy Yield, an some Nice ones...)))[/quote]

Gimme, thanks for the clarification and explanation. ;)

Some points about potatoes
1. You can grow them in straight compost or grass clippings or leaves, soil optional - lay them on the ground and cover them thickly.
2. You can hill them as many times as you want but don't hill more than a couple of inches at a time.
3. Just dig under them to get new potatoes, it isn't necessary to pull the whole plant.
4. When you buy them most sets will have no more than 1 or 2 eyes - also put them in a bag with some sulphur and shake them up before planting. They should dry for a day or two if you cut your own.
5. If you are going to harvest your potatoes completely, knock down their tops about a week to 10 days before you plan to pick them. Commercial growers sometimes use Round Up to knock them down before harvest. I think they plan on about 16 potatoes for each plant. (I don't think I have ever got this many.)
6. Don't always save the small potatoes for seed. You will end up with all small potatoes. Almost all potatoes are propagated by tuber. I believe they cross readily if you even get seed.
My opinions only.
Happy gardening,
Tom

I looked for any advice saying to reduce the number of sprouts per seed potato to 2, but didn't find any. Nonetheless, it seems logical that this would increase yield.