By Andy Robinson
With the recent cold weather, you may plsc.robinson.potato.frostbe worried that your plants were damaged by the freezing temperatures. The symptoms of freeze damage on potato often appear a few days after the event and are demonstrated as chlorotic and/or black and crispy leaves. Because potatoes are hilled at planting, it is difficult to freeze the seed (this is one of the advantages of hilling). However, if your potatoes were emerged and had some damage from the recent freezing temperature, this most likely will not kill them. If the apical meristem is killed, the growing point will move to an axilliary bud(s) lower on the stem and growth will continue. The plants may be set back a few days depending on the severity of the damage, but usually potatoes can overcome freeze damage without having to replant.