You're partially right. When the plants start to flower, you can reach your hands under the soil and steal small potatoes. If you wait until the plant turns completely brown, then you can dig up the full size potatoes.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Garden and Potatoes

Dig around lightly in an area and check them out. That way you don't disturb too much, but have a good idea. They should be right near the surface.

Kim

Please don't harvest until the plants are dead. If you look for potatoes after the flowers die, you will be disappointed. Some of my potato plants don't even flower at all. I've had plants growing for 4 months. Some have never flowered and some are flowering a second time. There is no downside to waiting. Be patient! Wait as long as possible.

The rule is - the potatoes start to form when the plant flowers and they should be picked after the plant dies.

There is some dispute about when to dig them after the plant dies. Some people advocate leaving them in the ground. There are, however, some possible drawbacks. Pests can attack them, they can rot in too-wet weather, and sometimes they decide to sprout.

But if you dig them too early, you'll get a lot of tiny potatoes and not many nice-sized ones.

Seems like I have a bit longer to wait then. I've only had a few flowers, and the plants themselves are still looking good.

So, I'm waiting then until this entire plant is dead, and dried up?

I've heard the tip that when the flowers die down it's harvest time.

Don't know where you heard that but it isn't accurate since it applies only to getting a few new potatoes, not the main crop. Of course if all you want is a few new potatoes then you can just pull up the whole plant. But that isn't the purpose of growing potatoes for most folks.

As Ed said - and you'll find many other discussions here about this since it is a common question - potatoes are dug AFTER the plants die back. They turn brown, wilt, and fall over, even begin to disappear. No there is no harm at all in waiting and a lot to be gained.

Carefully digging for a few new potatoes is possible but you do risk killing the plant and losing the later larger potatoes if you don't know how to do it.

Dave

Potatoes harvested before the tops have died down are not only smaller, but also do not store for long. Carefully lift out a few small new potatoes for immediate use from still growing plants, but wait for the main harvest until the tops are dead and dried. Then they should keep well for you.