The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is an herbaceous annual that grows up to 100 cm (40 inches) tall. As the potato plant grows, its compound leaves manufacture starch that is transferred to the ends of its underground stems (or stolons). The stems thicken to form a few or as many as 20 tubers close to the soil surface.
Do potatoes grow down or up?
The potato plant itself grows vertically from the seed potato, or seed piece if you've started with a large potato. The plant's actual functioning roots will grow downward and outward from the seed potato, potentially reaching a depth of as much as 18 inches, according to North Dakota State's extension service.
Do potatoes plants climb?
Although red tubers, or red potatoes, do not grow on climbing vines, many people refer to the stalks of any garden vegetable plant, including potato plants, as vines.
Do potatoes grow above ground?
Potatoes are perennial plants planted in the spring and harvested in the fall. Potatoes grow underground on a special stem called a 'stolon'. The potato stems above ground have attractive but non-edible flowers. Since the 'root' of the potato plant is not really a root but a stem, potatoes are also considered tubers.
How tall do you let potato plants grow?
How tall should my potato plants grow? You should only allow your potato plants to grow about 8 to 12 inches tall. Once this height is reached, you need to “hill” the potato plant. This means you need to cover about 3 to 6 inches of the stem and leaves of the potato plant with soil.
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