Variety traits

Potato lodging

Solanum tuberosum L.

In potatoes, haulm lodging is not considered a defect, but rather a physiological signal that the growing season is ending and the translocation of nutrients to the tubers has begun. Premature lodging, conversely, serves as an indicator of disease incidence or improper agronomic practices.

In the reference 63 varieties crop Potato, where this is mentioned in the description.

Physiological haulm lodging indicates that the plant has entered the biological maturation phase. Following this process, tubers actively accumulate starch and their skin toughens, which is essential for ensuring storability and minimizing mechanical damage during harvest. From an agronomic perspective, it is advisable to wait approximately 10 days after haulm lodging before beginning the harvest.

Unlike cereal crops, there are no official methods or scales for assessing lodging resistance in potatoes, as this process is a normal developmental stage. If the haulm lodges before the cycle is complete, it is regarded as a negative sign that requires diagnosis for potential infectious diseases, such as late blight or early blight, or the consequences of excessive soil moisture.

General information about the subject — on the page Lodging.

Sources8

Varieties of Potato mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.