Part 4/8:
Another concern among gardeners is the skin set of potatoes—attributes crucial for long-term storage. Most believe that potato plants need to die before the skin sets properly. Thai and Kev argue otherwise: while it is beneficial to let the plant die back for a week or two for skin setting, it is not necessary, especially for those consuming potatoes fresh. For commercial farmers, mechanically cutting the tops of plants can hasten skin set by allowing energy to focus on skin development rather than plant growth, which is a practice that serves to optimize yields for storage.