One of the signs of ripening of a new potato crop is dried-out potato tops. It is believed that after this you can safely take up a shovel and prepare bags..
But the tops can dry out in mid-August, while the ripening period, in theory, falls on the beginning of September..
Our magazine’s expert Anastasia Kovrizhnykh, an agronomist and landscape designer, told us how to act correctly in such a situation.
Dry tops
First of all, it is necessary to note the weather conditions that tested the patience of farmers this year.
The development of the plant can be affected by spring frosts, heat, and the rainy season. All these factors leave no chance to count on any predictable behavior of plants.
Therefore, dry tops in August are not yet a sign of potato ripeness.
When to dig
It is better to focus on the technical ripening times of a particular variety.
You can start harvesting only two weeks after the tops have fallen.
You can check by digging up one bush. If the tubers have already formed a dense skin, then you can dig up everything.
If you dig up ahead of time, the potatoes may not be stored well due to poorly formed skin.
If you delay until the cold weather, the potatoes may become less nutritious, the harvest may be spoiled by pests, diseases, or the tubers will over-store and sprout new shoots.
