What Are the Green Balls on My Potato Plants?
If you’ve noticed small, green, tomato-like spheres forming on your potato plants, you might be wondering what these unusual growths are. These are potato berries, also known as seed balls, potato apples, or potato tomatoes. Despite their resemblance to small tomatoes, these berries are not edible and are in fact, poisonous. They are the fruit of the potato plant, a natural consequence of flowering and pollination, and a completely different part of the plant than the edible tubers we typically harvest.
These potato berries develop after the potato plant flowers and those flowers are successfully pollinated. The cool weather combined with sufficient rainfall allows these flowers to persist, encouraging the development of these fruit-like structures. Inside each berry, you’ll find hundreds of tiny seeds embedded in a mass of moist tissue. These seeds are capable of producing new potato plants, though they don’t typically replicate the parent plant’s characteristics.
The key takeaway is: do not eat these green balls. Potato berries contain high levels of solanine, a toxic compound that can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms, including headache, abdominal pain, shock, and diarrhea. Ingesting them can be particularly dangerous for children and pets, therefore prompt removal of these berries is important, especially if children or animals have access to the garden.
Understanding Potato Berries
While the edible part of the potato plant, the tuber, forms underground, the berries develop above ground as a result of the plant’s reproductive cycle. The presence of these berries indicates that the potato plant has reached maturity and has successfully completed its flowering phase. The appearance of these berries can vary, but they generally look like small, green, round fruits, closely resembling immature cherry tomatoes. The berries are essentially the fruit of the potato plant, just like an apple is the fruit of the apple tree.
It’s important to distinguish between the edible potato tubers that grow underground and the poisonous potato berries that develop above ground. While both are parts of the same plant, they serve different functions, and their chemical composition differs significantly. The tubers are rich in starches and carbohydrates, while the berries are rich in solanine and other toxic compounds.
Why Do Potato Plants Produce Berries?
Potato plants produce berries as part of their natural reproductive cycle. Just like many flowering plants, potatoes rely on pollination to produce seeds. When a potato plant flowers and the flowers are successfully pollinated, the plant starts to form the potato berry containing seeds, the result of this reproductive activity. However, the process of seed production, while being natural, can use valuable resources that could otherwise go into tuber production.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Potato Berries
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about potato berries, addressing common concerns and curiosities:
1. Are potato berries edible?
No, potato berries are not edible. They contain solanine, a toxic compound that can cause serious health problems if ingested. Symptoms of poisoning can include headache, abdominal pain, shock, and diarrhea.
2. What is the difference between potato tubers and potato berries?
Potato tubers are the underground, starchy stems that we eat as potatoes. Potato berries are the fruits that form above ground after the flowers are pollinated and are not edible. The tubers are the plant’s energy storage, while berries are for seed dispersal.
3. Can I grow potatoes from the seeds in potato berries?
Yes, you can grow potatoes from the seeds inside potato berries, but the resulting plants will not be genetically identical to the parent plant. This process, known as True Potato Seed (TPS) propagation, takes significantly longer than planting seed potatoes (tubers) and the plants may not reliably produce the same variety of potato.
4. Should I remove potato berries from my plants?
Yes, it’s generally recommended to remove potato berries, especially if you have children or pets that might be tempted to eat them. Also, removing them can divert the plant’s energy into tuber production.
5. Do potato berries mean my potatoes are ready to harvest?
No, potato berries do not indicate that your potatoes are ready to harvest. The timing for harvesting potatoes is based on plant maturity and time from planting, not the presence of berries.
6. What does it mean when potato plants start flowering?
Flowering indicates that the potato plant is mature enough and has enough leaf area to start forming tubers. It does not mean the tubers are ready to harvest yet, it is simply a stage in the plants life cycle.
7. How long does it take for potatoes to flower?
Potato plants typically flower between 45 and 90 days after emergence from the soil. This timing can vary depending on the potato variety, growing conditions, and climate.
8. Why are my potatoes flowering?
Potatoes flower as part of their natural reproductive cycle, when the plant is mature and has the needed leaf area. They flower to potentially produce seeds and continue the plant life cycle.
9. How can I make my potatoes grow bigger?
To encourage larger potatoes, ensure plants have adequate spacing (at least 14 inches apart), regular watering (1 to 3 inches per week), and well-draining soil. Hilling (mounding soil around the plant’s stems) can also encourage tuber development.
10. What do diseased potato plants look like?
Diseased potato plants may show yellowish spots that darken on the leaves, a greyish-white fungal layer on the underside of the leaves, and grey-blue, hard, indented spots on the tubers. A diseased potato plant may eventually wilt and die, so proper prevention is necessary.
11. When are potatoes ready to harvest?
Potatoes are generally ready to harvest when the plant’s foliage begins to turn yellow and die back, typically 90-120 days after emergence. You can also check for readiness by carefully digging around a sample plant.
12. What are the white spots on my potatoes?
The white, raised spots on your potatoes are likely swollen lenticels, which are small openings in the tuber’s surface used for gas exchange. This is usually caused by wet soil conditions.
13. What are those tiny growths on my potatoes?
Those are sprouts. Sprouts mean that your potatoes are starting to grow new plants from their “eyes,” or small indentations.
14. Are sprouted potatoes safe to eat?
Sprouted potatoes are generally safe to eat if the sprouts are small and firm. However, you should remove the sprouts before cooking and avoid consuming potatoes that are very soft, green, or taste bitter, as these may contain higher levels of solanine.
15. How should I store potatoes after harvest?
To store potatoes long-term, cure them by laying them in a single layer on newspaper or cardboard in a dark, cool (50-60 degrees F) spot for about two weeks. This helps thicken the skins and prevent decay.
Conclusion
While the appearance of green balls on your potato plants might be alarming at first, understanding their nature as poisonous potato berries is essential. Removing them can protect children and pets and focus the plant’s energy on tuber production. By understanding the potato plant’s lifecycle and the difference between tubers and berries, you can effectively manage your potato crop and enjoy a safe and bountiful harvest. Always remember to never consume potato berries, and harvest your potatoes at the right time for the best results.