Can you cut down the stems on potatoes?

Here's a breakdown of what you might be asking:

1. Cutting the stems off potatoes before planting: You don't need to cut the stems off potatoes before planting. Potatoes are typically planted as seed potatoes, which are whole potatoes with buds (eyes) that will sprout into new plants.

2. Cutting the stems off potatoes after they have been planted: You can cut the stems off potatoes after they have been planted, but it's not usually necessary. Removing the stems will stop the plant from producing more leaves and flowers, but it won't affect the potatoes growing underground. This might be done if the stems are diseased or damaged.

3. Cutting the stems off potatoes after they have been harvested: Once you have harvested your potatoes, the stems are no longer useful and can be removed.

Important Note:

* If you are removing stems from potatoes while they are growing, be sure to leave some leaves on the plant to allow it to continue photosynthesizing and producing energy for the potatoes.

If you can provide more context about what you are trying to accomplish, I can provide more specific advice.