You can definitely plant sprouted potatoes that you buy from the store. In fact, it’s a great way to make use of those potatoes that may have otherwise gone to waste. Planting sprouted potatoes can be a fun and rewarding gardening project.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to plant sprouted potatoes:
1. Preparation:
– Choose potatoes that have sprouts or “eyes” on them. These eyes are the starting point for new potato plants.
– Select potatoes that are firm and healthy-looking. Avoid using potatoes that are soft, moldy, or have a strong odor.
2. Cutting and curing:
– If the sprouts on your potatoes are long and leggy, you can trim them down to about 1 inch in length. This will encourage stronger, more compact growth.
– Allow the cut potatoes to cure for a day or two before planting. This helps to prevent rotting and promotes healing of the cut surfaces.
3. Planting:
– Choose a sunny spot in your garden for planting. Potatoes thrive in full sun.
– Prepare the soil by loosening it and removing any weeds or rocks.
– Dig a trench or individual holes, about 4-6 inches deep and 12-18 inches apart.
– Place the sprouted potatoes into the holes or trench with the sprouts facing up. Space them evenly.
– Cover the potatoes with soil, leaving a small mound or ridge on top. This will help with watering and hilling later on.
4. Care and maintenance:
– Water the potatoes regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
– As the potato plants grow, continue to mound soil around the base of the plants. This is called hilling and helps to encourage more tuber development.
– Monitor for pests and diseases, and take appropriate action if needed.
– Mulch the soil around the potato plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
5. Harvesting:
– Depending on the variety, potatoes typically take around 2-4 months to mature.
– Once the potato plants start to die back and the foliage turns yellow, it’s a sign that the potatoes are ready for harvest.
– Carefully dig up the potatoes using a garden fork or shovel, being careful not to damage the tubers.
– Allow the harvested potatoes to cure in a cool, dark place for a week or two before storing them for long-term use.
Personal experience: I have personally planted sprouted potatoes from the store and had great success. It’s always exciting to see those sprouts grow into healthy potato plants and eventually yield a bountiful harvest. Plus, it’s a wonderful way to reduce food waste and make the most out of store-bought potatoes.
Planting sprouted potatoes from the store is a viable and enjoyable gardening endeavor. With proper care and maintenance, you can look forward to a delicious harvest of homegrown potatoes in just a few months’ time. So go ahead and give it a try – you might be surprised at the results!
