How to Grow Potatoes From Seed
Potatoes are among the most loved, most used vegetables around the world. And rightfully so, because can you think of a bad-tasting dish made with them? Not likely. This is why I think you will be happy to hear that growing potatoes is an easy crop, even for inexperienced gardeners. If you are a fan of anything made with this plant like me, there are a ton of intriguing potato kinds you can grow in your home.
You can even grow potatoes in large bags or pots on a balcony or patio without the requirement for a plot. And they also have a long shelf life and may be prepared in a variety of ways. What a fantastic investment! No matter how much or how little space you have to produce them, we’ll look at what seed potatoes are, how to plant them, and how to grow potatoes from seed correctly in this article.
Do Potatoes Actually Have Seeds?
Yup, potatoes actually produce seeds. Like most other plants, potato plants bloom too, but typically the blooms dry out and fall off the plant without producing fruit. For potato plants to produce fruits, cooler temperatures and longer days are required, therefore, you are more likely to observe potato seeds sprouting on plants in regions like this. With that being said, potatoes such as Yukon Gold are more likely than others to bear fruit. The phrase “true potato seed” refers to this kind.
However, in reality, seed potatoes are not even seeds. Because potato plants produce tiny green fruits that resemble cherry tomatoes in look and size and are packed with hundreds of seeds, but, despite having a tomato-like look, the fruit should never be consumed. Because the hazardous solanine it contains may cause headaches, diarrhea, cramps, comas, and even death.
This is why cultivators only use potato tubers that are intended for planting. These potato tubers are kept from the previous harvest and carefully preserved during the winter to keep them firm and disease-free. However, many cultivators advise buying fresh, guaranteed disease-free seed potatoes at the start of each growing season rather than replanting some of your produce the following year.
The reason for this is that this vegetable is inclined to many diseases. And among these diseases are also potato scabs and potato blight, which can easily spread to your garden or pot if you are planting your own saved tubers. However, The disease-free status of certified seed potatoes is guaranteed, and they haven’t been subjected to the anti-sprouting treatments typically applied to supermarket potatoes.
What Month Do You Plant Potatoes?
Since these are strongly rooted plants, they grow best in light, loose soil that drains well. Potatoes prefer soil that is pH 5.0 to 7.0 or slightly acidic to neutral. However, they are prolific growers who typically adapt to unfavorable environmental factors. That said, you can plant your seeds as soon as the soil can be worked in the early spring.
However, the soil temperature should still be kept in mind when planting since potato plants won’t start to grow until the soil reaches 45 degrees Fahrenheit. So, the soil should be moist but not completely soaked in water. Because insufficiently warm or wet soil might cause seed potatoes to rot. Remember, for this vegetable to grow, full sun is ideal.
Nonetheless, potatoes can withstand a slight cold, but if you anticipate a harsh, late-season freeze, you should give the plants some frost protection. And for optimal production, they require 1 to 2 inches of water every week. If everything goes right, you can sow a second crop as late as June 15 and harvest them as late as possible if you want to increase storage durations and have a long growing season.
Where to Plant?
Potato seeds can be planted in three different methods. In addition to being able to be planted straight into the ground, they can also be planted in containers and beneath straws. Rotate your crops to prevent planting them in the same location year after year. Regardless of the method, you use to plant your seed potatoes, ensure the location has at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
You should also wait to plant until the soil has warmed up and the moisture levels are optimal. If you are planting in the ground, you should also pay close attention to the depth and spacing of your seed potato pieces. Make a hole for each cut piece of seed potato separately when planting it in the soil, or use a garden hoe to dig a trench and plant numerous pieces of seed potato in rows 10 to 12 inches apart.
The trench or hole needs to be 4 to 5 inches deep. If you intend to plant in numerous rows, leave 18 to 24 inches between each one. When planting seed potatoes in the ground, whether in rows or holes, you should hill your potato plants twice or three times over the growing season with several inches of soil. The area to produce tubers increases as potato plants are cultivated deeper.
How to Grow Potatoes From Seed in Pots and Grow Bags?
If you have a smaller space or no outdoor garden, and you still want to grow potatoes, don’t worry, there are solutions for you too! Finding the appropriate container is the first step in planting seed potatoes in a restricted space: the larger the pot, the better for growing in containers. To develop into a full-sized plant, each piece of seed potato requires at least 2.5 to 3 liters of potting soil.
That means you can plant two seed potato pieces inside a container about the size of a 5-gallon utility bucket. Also, make sure the container has drainage holes, and use premium potting soil with fertilizer and compost that are well mixed. Additionally, you can buy bagged compost and potting soil and combine them.
How to Grow Potatoes From Seed in Straw?
To grow seed potatoes in straw is a great and simple technique to increase your yield with little effort. Growing in straw is the best option if you’re wondering how to sow seed potatoes in a way that makes them simple to harvest and keeps the spuds clean. Prepare a raised bed or an in-ground garden bed for planting before you start to plant your seeds. Place each seed potato piece into the soil no deeper than an inch or two.
Cover the seed potato pieces with 5 to 6 inches of loose straw once they have been set. As the plants develop, top the bed with additional straw until there are 8 to 10 inches of the straw total, covering all but the topmost leaves of the plants. Keep the bed moist throughout the growing season, even though the covering of straw makes a great mulch.
How Long Does It Take to Grow Potatoes From Seed?
Usually, two to three weeks after the plants have stopped flowering, baby potatoes can be picked. Harvest should be carefully removed from the plants using gentle digging techniques, and they will be ready to be eaten right away. Remove the largest new ones with care, but remember to leave the smaller ones in the soil so they can develop. Take only what you require for immediate consumption.
However, the ones intended for storage shouldn’t be dug until two to three weeks after the leaves have begun to fall. You can use a firm fork to dig them carefully, and if the weather is dry, let them sit in the field unwashed for two to three days. The skins can mature during the curing process, which is crucial for effective storage.
It’s also important to allow them to cure in a dry, protected space, such as a garage or covered porch, if the weather is damp and rainy during harvest. Even though figuring out when to harvest this vegetable might be difficult for novice gardeners, if you know the basics, timing the harvest is easy!
How to Harvest
Harvesting young potatoes involves reaching into the hillside and pulling a few tubers from each plant when the plants start to blossom, typically towards the end of July. Instead of using a tool, however, it’s advised to perform this operation while wearing gloves not to harm the plants. After you’ve picked a few fresh ones, you have to reposition the dirt and create a mound around the plants.
But if you are harvesting for storage, carefully lift the root mass with a garden fork inserted approximately a foot away from the plant. Shovels are another option. Use a gloved hand to search the area for missed ones that might still be on the ground. After harvesting, gently brush off any soil that has been caked on and leave them to dry outside for about an hour. But remember to avoid washing the tubers.
How to Store
Potatoes need to go through a curing procedure before they can be stored. This lengthens the storage life of the tubers and aids in skin thickening. They should be laid out on newspaper, trays, or cardboard and allowed to cure for one to two weeks in a cool, dark place with high humidity. Finding a place with good airflow is also important.
Homegrown potatoes, especially maincrops, will keep well for many months in a cool, frost-free location. Do not wash tubers before storing them; instead, only store perfect ones and discard any that exhibit damage. All light must be blocked out to prevent the onset of green and toxic ones. Also, you should regularly inspect the crops in the store and eliminate any bad ones.
How Many Potatoes Can Single Seed Yield?
One seed potato will yield several potatoes that may be harvested, making them an easy crop to raise. Dig straight trenches 12 cm deep and 60 cm apart after clearing the soil of weeds. Plant seed potatoes in the spring 30 cm apart, then cover them with dirt to fill the trench.
Use a rake, hoe, or spade to create a mound of earth around the bases of the shoots when they are 20 cm tall, covering the stems halfway. Earthing up is the term for this. On a patio or balcony, you may also grow first- and second-early ones in a sizable bag while continuously covering them with compost.
Should You Cut Seed Potatoes Before Planting?
Set your seed potatoes in a location where they will be exposed to light and temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees F a week or two before the planting date. As a result, the sprouting process will start. Use a sharp, clean knife to cut the larger seed potatoes into smaller pieces a day or two before planting.
Each item must have at least 1 or 2 eyes or buds and should be around 2 inches square. Tiny ones can go into the soil as a whole. As a general guideline, plant them intact if they are less than a golf ball in size. Your seed will develop a thick callus over the wounds in about a day, helping to keep it from decaying.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to grow potatoes from seed and the dos and don’ts of it, you are ready to get your hands dirty! Even though you can find them in reasonably priced stores, freshly dug ones will surely have a different flavor. And as we discussed, working with this vegetable is not hard at all, and the results of your efforts will be significantly met. Just decide on the right planting method for yourself, do some planning and shopping, and you are ready to go.
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