How to Use Potatoes to Grow Other Potatoes

Potatoes are a versatile, starchy vegetable.

Potato seeds are not actually seeds; they are modified stem tissue called tubers. The potato seeds vary in size from 1 1/2 to 6 oz. Using seed potatoes to grow other potatoes is an effective way to cultivate this versatile vegetable for your home. Unlike some other vegetables, potatoes may be consumed at various growth stages. The "new" young potatoes are perfect for steaming while mature potatoes can be fried or baked.

Things You'll Need

• Fertilizer (5-10-10 or 10-20-20)
• Garden tiller
• Sharp knife (optional)

Instructions

1. Purchase seed potatoes that are certified free of disease and insects. Also, no growth retardant is used on these potatoes. During the spring season, these potatoes are available at garden centers, hardware stores and nurseries.

2. Place a 10-20-20 or 5-10-10 fertilizer over the garden site. Till the site to a depth of 10 to 12 inches, mixing in the fertilizer well.

3. Cut the seed potatoes in halves or quarters with a sharp knife, if they are large, approximately 5 or 6 oz. Each section must have two or three eyes for the best results. Allow the cut sections to callus over before planting. If the seed potatoes are small to medium in size, plant them whole.

4. Plant the seed potatoes in rows that are 2 or 3 feet apart. Space each potato or cut section about 1 foot apart.

5. Cover each potato with about 1 inch of soil.

6. Add more soil as the potatoes grow larger. Keep the surface tubers covered.

7. Water the potatoes thoroughly once a week -- to a depth of 1 inch -- during hot or dry weather. Oversaturating the soil results in potatoes with hollow or black centers.

8. Harvest the potatoes approximately two weeks after the vines die. This period allows time for the skin to set. It also reduces bruising or rotting in storage. In weather that reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit or above, harvest the potatoes right away to prevent the skin from turning green and the potatoes rotting.

Tips & Warnings

• Cure the potatoes in a cool, dark area with temperatures of approximately 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 days. For the best results, the humidity should be around 85 percent relative humidity.

• Potatoes store well for two or three months in cool, dark areas with high humidity and a temperature of 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

References

• Ed Hume Seeds: Potatoes Are Easy to Grow Vegetables
• The Ohio State University; Growing Potatoes in the Home Garden; E.C. Wittmeyer, et al.