August: The Make-Or-Break Month For Potato Weight

Lush green potato foliage in late summer can be misleading. While stems remain vigorous, tubers continue to accumulate weight. Harvesting too early—especially during humid seasons when plants are slow to enter dormancy—can reduce overall yield and prevent the formation of a protective skin necessary for winter storage. Photosynthesis continues as long as the leaves stay green, pumping nutrients into the tubers. Prematurely interrupting this cycle results in smaller, waterier potatoes. In wet years, natural growth typically slows toward the second half of September. Alexey Danilov, open-ground vegetable specialist: "While leaves remain green, tubers continue to grow in volume. If the foliage persists, do not mow it—let the plant give all its strength to the harvest."