remove or not

[topman]

Hi all
Growing Maris Piper in growbags & pots (pics) doing realy well, have heard somewhere that I should remove all the flowers to allow more energy to go to making more potatoes  what are your thoughts on this .
           TOPMAN ;D

[topman]

[supersprout]

Some people do recommend removing the flowers. I've removed the flowers (and fruit) in the past when I had time and inclination, but haven't done a parallel test to see if there was a difference with the ones whose flowers stayed on. The farmers don't take them off and the flowers are a lovely sight in the fields. I suspect it does no harm though. What about trying it with some and comparing the tubers at harvest time?

[Curryandchips]

My views concur with those of Supersprout ... ie it is not done at a commercial level (too labour intensive perhaps). A controlled test should give a good indication of the benefits.

[topman]

Thanks for your views Supersprout & Curry
A contolled test sounds a great idea , got 2 pots & 6 half growbags earthed up to the top and I'am just about to remove the flowers from 1 pot and 3 growbags.
Let you know how I get on round about september with a bit of luck.

[jennym]

I take the shears to mine and just take off the top couple of inches of foliage, quick and easy. I think it makes a difference, maybe not with energy going into flowers, but there must be energy going into the fruit later when that develops I guess.