Enfula Surprise

[sweetquietplace]

I am a longtime gardener, but this is my first attempt TPSing.  This evening I was checking on the Enfulas to see how close to harvest they were.  I was startled to see several tubers growing along the stem 10-12 inches above the ground...and darned if they weren't starting to sprout.

Unless you all tell me differently, I plan to cut them with a section of stem intact and bury them slightly in a container.  If they take off, I'll just top-up as usual.  I really would appreciate any advice you can give me.  Thank you.

[samyaza]

Looks like your weather is rainy this year. I've had a lot of tubers on stems but only during such conditions.

I'd suggest you put the section where tubers are growing in the ground so they can give you additional tubers to harvest, but it must be impossible.

I think it'd be easy to separate them from the stem. They already have little stock with tiny leaves but don't forget we're already in September...

[sweetquietplace]

Thanks for the reply. You're right...a couple of the tubers fell off the stem all by themselves. I put them in a raised garden and lightly covered them. The frost flowers are just beginning to bloom here, so I have another 6 weeks of fairly decent weather. I'll cover the plants when the frost comes and keep my fingers crossed. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[nathanp]

Any chance you can take pictures of the tubers growing on the stems?

[billw]

I get a lot of those. Here are some I pulled this week:



I've yet to find a plant with aerial tubers that yielded well.

[Tom Wagner]

Enfula as the tuber parent of the TPS has pink tubers such as this



So many times TPS plants do weird things and replanting those aerial tubers next season could be interesting.

[Sebbie]

I grew some Enfula tubers from TPS last year. Planted the tubers this year, and harvesting now.

Many of the tubers I am now harvesting have already broken dormancy it appears, even though they are still attached to a green potato plant.

Is this common? I'd like some advice as to how to proceed from here. Thanks

[sweetquietplace]

Where are you? Your location is key to considered advice.

[Sebbie]

British Columbia, Pacific coast, 50°N, zone 8

[Tom Wagner]

Sometimes heat sprouts on tubers look like the whole potato has broken dormancy, but often the rest of the eyes will act like a long term storage potato. The main problem with a tuber that has any kind of sprouting is if the tuber is small. They will lose moisture and turn flaccid. I have grown out little aerial tubers in 2 and 3 inch cell pots and then transplant them either into the ground or larger pots if cold outside. The idea is to get a few normal tubers. Aerial tubers form under stress conditions...too wet is one cause...breakage of the stalk somewhere, fungal disease blocking the xylem/phloem tissues..etc.

[Sebbie]

Thanks Tom. Would Enfula potentially overwinter in hardiness zone 8?

[Tom Wagner]

I am not far from you in British Columbia as I grow potatoes in Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King, and counties further south in the state of Washington. Enfula has over-wintered as tubers in the ground with minimal protection. I do like to hill my potato beds so that the tubers develop six to eight inches down in the soil horizon. We can take short periods of 10 to 20 degrees F. but potatoes winter better if it doesn't stay below 26 for long. Covering with hay/straw or even more soil does a good job. Enfula does better than some. I am not home with my notebooks right now so making a complete list of varieties that survive winter conditions is something I would have to research through my notes.