Planetagarden
If you sow seed potatoes directly into the ground without chitting / sprouting them, they will grow perfectly well.
- Do potatoes need eyes to plant?
- Can you plant potatoes that have not sprouted?
- How do you force potatoes to grow eyes?
- Can I plant shop bought potatoes?
Do potatoes need eyes to plant?
The closer they're planted, the smaller your tubers come out. Always grow your potatoes with eyes upward. Higher yields mean you have healthier soil to plant in.
Can you plant potatoes that have not sprouted?
No, you should not plant a potato that has not sprouted. Remember: the whole point of planting potatoes is to grow them into new potato plants. Give your potatoes a chance to sprout before planting them.
How do you force potatoes to grow eyes?
We have had good success at layering potatoes in damp leaves and bringing them indoors to induce sprouting. Potatoes like to sprout in the dark however so don't expose them to light until the have begun to sprout. When the sprouts are about a half-inch (1 cm) long, they are an ideal length for "chitting".
Can I plant shop bought potatoes?
Another problem is that eating potatoes for sale in supermarkets may be treated with chemicals like Maleic Hydrazide to prevent sprouting. This renders them useless as seed potatoes.
