Shorten potato vine side shoots after bloom, or in spring, back to a few buds on a tied framework. Do not strip every old cane in one year.
Shorten side shoots after bloom, back to a framework
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | After bloom slows, or in spring before the new flush | Do not make the hard cut in mid-flower if you want that flush |
| How much | Side shoots back to three or four buds of a permanent framework | Do not strip every old cane to the ground in one pass |
| Tie-in | Tie new stems as they grow, spaced on the wires | Do not let a tangle sit against the wall with no air |
| Gloves | Wear gloves; wash your hands after you cut | Do not chew stems or berries while you prune |
Treat potato vine as a wall climber with a permanent framework. After flowering, or in late winter to early spring if it flowers on new wood, shorten the side shoots to within three or four buds of those main stems. [1] The purple-blue scrambling kind follows the same pattern after bloom. [2]
When do I prune potato vine?
After bloom slows, or in spring before the new flush. Save the hard cut for then, not for mid-flower.
How to prune potato vine
Keep a few strong stems as the framework, tied across the support. Each year, cut the side shoots that flowered back to a few buds, and take out dead, damaged, or crossing wood at the same time. [3] A late-spring cut on the purple-blue kind pushes a flush of new flowering wood. [4]
- Wear gloves. The sap can irritate skin, and the berries are not for eating.
- Stand back and pick three to five main stems that will stay as the framework. Tie them loosely onto the wires or trellis, spaced so air can move.
- Shorten the side shoots that flowered to three or four buds from those main stems. Cut just above a leaf node.
- Remove dead, damaged, or inward wood. If an old cane is woody and bare at the base, take one out at the ground and train a strong new stem in its place. Do not remove every old cane in the same year.
- Through the growing season, tie new stems as they lengthen, and shorten a shoot that has left the allotted space.
After you cut, water and site the plant as you would on How to Grow Potato Vine.
Keep a tied framework, shorten side shoots to a few buds after bloom or in spring, and do not strip every old cane in one year.
FAQ
Can I cut it to the ground?
Not all at once. Take out one old cane at the base and train a replacement. A plant cut to sticks in one pass often stalls or dies.
Can I cut yellow or inward shoots any time?
Yes. Dead, damaged, or crossing wood can come off whenever you see it. Save the framework cut for after bloom or spring.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/climbers/established-pruning-guide - [2] Royal Horticultural Society -
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/97176/solanum-crispum-glasnevin/details - [3] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/solanum-laxum/ - [4] San Marcos Growers -
https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=4842
This note is part of Potato_vine Guides.
More pruning timing notes by plant live in Pruning Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors