Plant Doctor Archive

Lanky potatoes

HOW do I prevent excessive stem growth on my potato crop? I have cut out all nitrogen fertiliser. What is the secret?

AS well as an excess of nitrogen, an over-rich soil and too much water can also could these problems. Ensure that the plants have full sun at all times. Mounding up the soil will also help to keep the plants compact. Another idea would be to try growing your potatoes in buckets or old tyres.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH.