Potatoes aren't blooming: why, what to do, and will there be a harvest?

Farmers often believe that the formation of potato roots coincides with flowering. There's a common belief that a bountiful harvest won't occur if the crop doesn't bloom on time. Therefore, the lack of flowering is often a cause for concern. However, there are various reasons why potato plants don't bloom. Some are harmless, while others can actually lead to a decrease in yield. What to do in such a situation must be decided on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes, all a farmer needs to do is simply follow basic potato care guidelines during the growing season.

The importance of flowering and when it occurs

About a month after planting, the first buds begin to appear on the potatoes. To speed up germination, the seeds are stored in a warm place for two weeks before planting. During this period, sprouts emerge, allowing the plants to bloom 5-7 days earlier. Root formation begins at the end of budding. During flowering, the future roots are just beginning to form. They continue to grow until the tops turn yellow, dry out, and die.

A profuse flowering of potatoes doesn't guarantee a plentiful supply of tubers. Flowering and growth, the formation of root crops in the soil, are not interrelated processes. Breeders have developed numerous varieties that typically don't flower at all, yet they produce excellent fruit. Some farmers trim the flowers from the bushes to increase the number of tubers. However, this is not recommended. Walking between rows and removing flowers will damage the stems and compact the soil. The plant will recover after a few days, but this will cost it the resources needed for root formation.

Why aren't potatoes blooming and what can be done about it?

Potato flowers are sometimes very small and bloom briefly. Therefore, such blooms may go unnoticed by farmers. If an ultra-early potato variety is growing in a garden, it may not bloom at all. These varieties develop roots separately from the budding period. Breeders have deliberately achieved this so that the plant doesn't waste energy on an unnecessary process. Such varieties include Roko, Timo, and Empress. There are also varieties whose flowering depends on the weather. For example, the Vesna variety begins to bloom in normal humidity, but this blooming period is short-lived. In dry weather, this plant will develop and grow without flowering.

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If mid-season or late-season potato varieties fail to bloom, assess the growing conditions. The following factors usually cause a lack of bloom:

• the air temperature is too high (in this case the bush itself looks weak and wilted);
• moisture deficiency or excess;
• lack of sunlight;
• lack of preliminary preparation before planting the planting material;
• excess of nitrogen fertilizers;
• lack of nutrients in the soil.

In some cases, potato flowering is prevented by insect pests. The most common are ladybugs, ground beetles, and Colorado potato beetles. They feed on flower stalks. If there are too many beetles, they will quickly consume the buds before flowering begins.

Sometimes potato plants fail to bloom due to rugose mosaic. This disease causes the plant to stagnate. Leaf blades become wrinkled and chlorotic. Affected plants end their growing season early, about a month before the expected time. As a result, the number of root crops remains small and the plants themselves do not increase in size. When affected by stolbur, flowers develop abnormally. Plant growth stops, the plant turns yellow, and wilts.

Therefore, before planting potatoes, it's important to familiarize yourself with their characteristics and ripening times, and look at photos. If the variety isn't early, flower stalks should appear. If mid-season or late-season potato bushes don't bloom, the solution is determined after diagnosing the problem. For example, reducing soil moisture due to frequent rainfall won't work, but drought can be easily alleviated with watering.

Care during flowering

A large harvest depends on proper care. When buds are forming, potatoes require moisture. Therefore, if there's no rainfall, caring for potato plants involves watering them when the first buds appear. Keep in mind that each plant requires approximately 3 liters of water. To determine how much moisture is needed, feel the soil at a depth of about 5 cm. If it feels damp, wait with watering. Excess moisture is also bad, as it can cause the tubers to rot. Water the plantsIt's best to do this in the morning or evening. The next day, loosen the soil and hill it up. This will ensure the bushes receive both moisture and oxygen. The procedure can be repeated after a couple of weeks.

It's important to remember that large tubers only form with adequate nutrition. Therefore, experienced farmers apply two types of root feeding:

• the first - during the appearance of buds (a mixture of 3 tablespoons of ash and 1 teaspoon of potassium sulfate is added to the soil per meter of the bed);
• the second - 5 days after flowering has become widespread (2 tablespoons of superphosphate per 1 m of garden bed).

Farmers who take extra care of their potatoes also apply foliar feeding during budding. Possible options for 10 liters of water (per 100 square meters of garden space):

• 35 g urea;
• 45 g potassium sulfate;
• 15 g ammonium nitrate;
• make a mixture of 2 g of copper sulfate, 10 g of potassium salt and 180 g of superphosphate.

During the flowering phase, it's not advisable to use chemical pest control. Therefore, if there are only a few beetles, it's best to pick them off by hand. In severe cases, if potato plants aren't blooming due to pests, you can spray them with a biological product. "Bitoxibacillin" and "Fitoverm" are suitable for this purpose. This should be done in clear weather. It's important that the product remains on the plant after spraying and isn't washed away by rain.

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Conclusion

Whether or not a potato has flowered doesn't affect the number and size of its roots, but sometimes its absence indicates problems. To ultimately harvest a large number of potatoes, the plant needs proper care. It's important to remember that both a deficiency and an excess are equally harmful. Balance in this case is the key to a good result.