will potatoes grow if leaves are eaten

Will Potatoes Grow If Leaves Are Eaten? Everything You Need To Know

As an avid home gardener, I’m always looking for ways to protect my vegetable crops from pests and diseases. One question that often comes up is what happens if the leaves of potato plants get damaged. Will the potatoes continue to grow and produce a harvestable crop? In this article, I’ll explore this issue in depth so you know what to expect if your potato foliage gets chomped.

The Role of Leaves in Potato Growth

To understand how losing leaves affects potatoes it helps to first know the function of leaves in plant growth. The green leaves of the potato plant play several critical roles

• Photosynthesis – This is the process plants use to convert sunlight into energy and grow. Leaves absorb sunlight and use it to produce carbohydrates that fuel the entire plant

• Respiration – Leaves take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen through tiny pores called stomata. This process provides energy for plant functions.

• Transpiration – The leaves release water vapor into the air through transpiration. This helps pull moisture and nutrients from the soil up into the plant.

• Food Production – Leaves contain chlorophyll to absorb sunlight. The energy is used to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose sugars which are used to grow the plant or stored in the tubers.

Factors That Affect Impact of Losing Leaves

If potato leaves get damaged, the severity of the impact depends on a few factors:

• Growth Stage – Young potato plants are more vulnerable to leaf damage than mature, established plants. Plants that lose a lot of leaves early on may struggle to form a decent number of tubers. More mature plants can compensate better.

• Amount of Foliage Lost – A few nibbles here and there on the leaves isn’t a big deal. But if a pest devours large portions of the foliage, that’s more problematic. The more leaves remaining, the better the plant can recover.

• Overall Plant Health – Vigorous, robust potato plants that receive adequate water and nutrients can rebound well after leaf damage. Weaker, stressed plants will have a tougher time.

• Presence of Disease – Any diseases infecting the plant in addition to leaf loss makes recovery very difficult.

So in ideal conditions, an established, healthy potato can tolerate some foliage loss. But when combined with other stressors, excessive leaf damage can threaten the survival of the plant.

Can Potatoes Grow Back Leaves?

If potatoes lose their leaves, the plant isn’t necessarily doomed. Potato plants can initiate new growth and regrow leaves depending on growing conditions and the level of carbohydrate reserves remaining in the tubers underground.

Here are some ways the plants work to replace foliage:

• Activating dormant buds below ground to generate new shoots
• Producing new side shoots off existing stems
• Growing new smaller leaves along existing stems

So even leafless stems may surprise you by generating new greenery. Support the plant by keeping it consistently watered and fertilized. Adding a layer of mulch can help as well. But patience is required. It takes time for new foliage to regrow.

Common Pests That Eat Leaves

A wide range of pests find potato leaves irresistible. Here are some of the most likely culprits:

• Colorado Potato Beetles – This notorious pest can quickly skeletonize leaves, leaving just the veins behind. The orange and black striped beetles and their spiny yellow/red larvae often reappear year after year if not controlled.

• Aphids – Large colonies of these tiny sap-sucking insects can cause curled, wrinkled leaves. They transmit viruses too.

• Flea Beetles – These small jumping beetles riddle leaves with tiny holes. Heavily damaged leaves turn brown and dry up.

• European Corn Borers – Caterpillars of this moth bore into stems and feed on leaves.

• Grasshoppers – These insects chew on leaves, leaving ragged edges behind.

• Caterpillars – Tomato hornworms, cabbage loopers, cutworms and armyworms all feed on potato foliage.

• Slugs and Snails – Nocturnal slimy creatures scrape holes in leaves.

• Rodents – Mice, voles and rabbits nibble on potato plants.

The best defense is maintaining healthy soil, rotating crops, removing weeds/debris, and encouraging beneficial insects. Row covers and organic sprays can also deter pests when needed.

Caring for Plants After Leaf Damage

If your potato plants incur pest damage, here are some tips for management:

• Inspect plants thoroughly and identify the culprit if possible. Are beetles present? Are there caterpillars? Try to pinpoint the cause of damage.

• Remove any visible pests by handpicking or spraying off with water. Check under leaves too. Destroy egg masses.

• Apply organic insecticidal soap, neem oil, or BT spray to deter further damage if pests are active.

• Sprinkle diatomaceous earth around plants to discourage crawling insects. Kaolin clay sprays can deter chewing pests.

• Maintain consistent soil moisture and fertilize lightly with a balanced organic fertilizer to promote regrowth.

• Monitor closely for signs of disease like blight and treat if found.

• Add a layer of mulch around plants to conserve moisture and temperature.

• Consider using floating row covers or insect mesh to protect plants from further damage.

• Harvest potatoes early if plants decline severely. Otherwise continue caring for plants and wait for maturity.

• When planting potatoes again, use crop rotation, trap crops and other methods to deter pests.

Can You Still Get a Good Harvest?

Losing some potato foliage doesn’t necessarily translate to a loss of your whole crop. As long as pest pressure doesn’t remain rampant, many potato varieties will go on to produce decent yields come harvest time. Potato tuber growth accelerates in the second half of the season anyway.

However, unattended pest issues that persist in devouring foliage will take a toll. Try to remain proactive with organic solutions rather than letting the pests win! With quick action to salvage and protect plants, you can still harvest armloads of potatoes for months of meals.

Key Takeaways

• Potato leaves play a key photosynthesis role in plant growth, but tubers underground have energy reserves to draw from.

• Mature plants can better tolerate some leaf loss versus young plants.

• Remove pests, treat with organic deterrents, and promote plant health for recovery.

• New leaves can regrow from stems and below ground.

• Taking swift action against pests still allows for a successful harvest.