The Gift of New Potatoes

While you are waiting for your potato plants to enjoy their slow death, you may begin to get a little impatient for your little balls of joy. What do you do? You collect your first little plant gifts, your new potatoes!

These are the smaller, sweeter potatoes produced from your plants before they die off and the rest of your crop is ready. Generally, they are just below the surface and can be easily removed. In New Mexico, this is easy because of our sandy soil.

Once your plant has finished flowering, but before it dies off, simply brush away the dirt from the top of your plant. This will wipe away easily and you will see a few little potatoes sitting on top. They will not have roots attached to them, and will come right out of the ground. These potatoes are sweeter than regular potatoes and usually a bit smaller. You will also be able to see the rest of your little potatoes developing quite happily in the soil.

Once you gather your new potatoes, make sure you place the soil back over your plant. Don’t be surprised if you go out tomorrow and notice a few holes in your garden bed. The soil will settle back in the space where the potato was. You may need to add a little soil back to off-set your little space saver.