How to Save Seed Potatoes
Like many root vegetables, potato plants can be grown from cuttings of the seed tuber, more commonly known as the potato. The tuber contains growth eyes, from which the potato plant will spring in the early summer when planted. As the plant grows, the tubers multiply underground, creating more potatoes. Most gardeners cut seed potatoes into sections that contain 2-3 eyes per seed, maximizing the possibility for a successful plant. Seed potatoes must be stored carefully to prevent rotting, which will prohibit the plant from seeding in the next planting season. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Seed potatoes
- Plastic or metal bins
- Towel
- Opaque cloth sheet (optional)
Instructions
-
-
1
Select small potatoes from the garden, or purchase seed potatoes from a nursery or garden supply store. Clear the potatoes of surface dirt with a dry towel.
-
2
Inspect seed potatoes for discoloration of the flesh or skin, rough scars in the exterior of the potato, or abnormal bumps on the skin. Discard any potatoes with these blemishes, as they can produce a diseased potato crop.
-
-
3
Handle seed potatoes carefully to avoid scraping of skin or bruising the flesh, and place them into a bin for storage. Bruised or cut potatoes may rot in storage, and may not produce once planted. Place the potato container in a basement or cellar.
-
4
Take care to cover any windows or sources of light, or drape a thin, opaque sheet over the potatoes. Do not seal container completely as potatoes need adequate airflow to prevent rotting.
-
5
Store the potatoes in temperatures no higher than 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit, as higher temperatures will induce secondary growth of the potato plant. Do not allow the potatoes to freeze as this will damage the potato and may cause rotting.
-
6
Maintain humidity by storing in basements or cellars, but do not allow potatoes to get wet. Wet seed potatoes will rot or grow mold. Spread water or place water containers near the potatoes if the climate is particularly dry, as water will evaporate and keep the air in the vicinity moist.
-
7
Store potatoes for three to five months in these conditions, checking and rotating them once or twice a week. Discard any potatoes that appear moldy or rotten immediately to prevent decay of neighboring seeds.
-
8
Bring potatoes to temperatures of 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit seven to ten days before planting. Move potatoes outdoors in an opaque container, such as a trash can, once spring temperatures have reached 50-55 degrees. Temperature change will help the potatoes to heal from storage and to begin the growth process.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Some gardeners store seed through the winter by burying them in a plastic trash can outdoors and covering the container with straw. This is an excellent storage idea if you do not have a basement or cellar, but it can be hard to maintain a temperature of 40-45 degrees in the storage container outside if you live in a cold climate.
Potatoes sold in supermarkets have been treated with chemicals to prevent sprouting and will not reproduce. Do not eat seed potatoes. Commercially available seed potatoes are treated with chemicals to prevent spoilage, and home grown seed potatoes become woody and starchy in storage.
