How to Plant Potato Seeds: Guide for Growing Your Potatoes

Potatoes are a delicious vegetable that many people love to eat. But did you know that you can grow them at home? Potatoes are generous plants. They increase and produce abundant crops. Give them the following, and they’ll take on almost any planting situation:

• full sun
• Loose and fertile soil
• 1″ of water per week

You can grow potatoes in pots, containers, or a unique “grow bag.” But in my experience, such containers require constant attention to water and produce more minor crops than growing in raised beds.

In this guide, we’ll show you How to plant potato seeds so you can enjoy your homegrown potatoes. We asked, “Do potatoes have seeds?” Will also answer great questions like this. and “How many seeds are in a potato?” So, let’s get started!

What are potato seeds?

Potatoes increase with this type of vegetative propagation; for most home gardeners, the process is more straightforward than growing from seed. Potatoes generally take 60 to 90 days after planting. Instead, they grow from something called a “seed potato.” You plant these small potatoes or pieces in the ground to grow new potatoes.

When to plant seed potatoes

Potatoes grow best in full sun. They can be planted in early spring, two to four weeks before the last frost expected in your area. Generally, potatoes will only grow once soil temperatures reach at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on the location, you can plant the second crop after June 15 and harvest the potatoes as soon as possible.

Do potatoes have seeds?

Potatoes can produce seeds, but we don’t usually use those seeds to grow new potatoes. Most people plant seed potatoes because it’s easier and faster to grow big, tasty potatoes this way.

How many seeds do potatoes have?

A potato flower can contain many tiny seeds. But as we said earlier, we usually plant seed potatoes, not flower seeds.

How to plant seed potatoes

Plant seed potato sections face down (eyes up) in a 6-inch-deep hole or trench. Space each segment 12 inches in all directions. Between each section, sprinkle two tablespoons of low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer. Then, cover the potatoes and manure with 2 inches of soil and water the soil well.

Step 1: Get your seed potatoes

The first thing you need is seed potatoes. You can buy at a garden store or online. If you want to try something special, you can check out Yukon Gold seed potatoes, a popular type of potato.

Step 2: Prepare the soil

Potatoes grow best in loose, sandy soil. If your soil is heavy or has a lot of clay, mix it with sand and compost to facilitate potato growth. Potatoes also like their soil to be slightly acidic, so you can add some organic matter, such as leaves or compost, to help with this.

Step 3: Cut the Seed Potatoes (Optional)

If your seed potatoes are large, you can cut them into smaller pieces. Each piece should have at least one “eye,” a small shoot where the potato will begin to grow. Allow the pieces to dry for a day or two after cutting. This helps to prevent the rotting of potatoes during planting.

Step 4: Plant the seed potatoes

Now is the time to plant trees! Dig holes about 4 inches deep and 12 inches apart. Place the seed potato in the hole with the eye facing up. Cover them with soil, but lower them a little.

Step 5: Water the potatoes

Water the potatoes after planting, but do not soak them. Potatoes need water to grow, but too much water can cause them to rot. Water them regularly, especially if it rains a little.

Step 6: Add more soil as the potatoes grow

As your potato plant grows, you will see green shoots emerging from the soil. When these shoots are about 6 inches tall, cover them with more soil, leaving a little of the plant attached. This is called “healing,” which helps protect potatoes from the sun and pests. Keep adding soil as the plant grows.

More tips for growing potatoes

Plant your potatoes 8-9 inches deep if you want to avoid heeling. The disadvantages are that potatoes take longer to germinate, and your crop may be smaller.

Potato-like, slightly acidic soil (pH 5.8-6.5). Add manure or composted manure for best results.

How to plant seed potatoes in a bag

You can grow potatoes if you need a garden or a lot of space. Planting seed potatoes in a bag is a great way to grow potatoes on a small patio or balcony.

Get a bag

You can use a special potato growing bag or a large, sturdy garbage bag. Make sure the bottom of the bag has some holes for drainage.

Add soil

Place approximately 4 inches of soil in the bottom of the bag.

Plant seed potatoes

Place seed potatoes in the soil with their eyes facing up. Then, cover them with more soil, about 3 to 4 inches deep.

Watering

Water the potatoes as you would if they were in the ground. Keep the soil moist but not wet.

Add more soil

As the plants grow, add more soil to the bag, just as you plant in the ground. It helps potatoes grow and protects them from the sun.

Harvesting

When the potato plants begin to turn yellow and die, your potatoes will be ready to harvest! Carefully empty the bag and collect the potatoes.

Planting potatoes from seed

Although most people use seed potatoes, you can try planting seed potatoes. Growing potatoes from seed is a bit more complicated and time-consuming, but it can be a fun experiment.

How to Grow Potatoes from Seed

Collect seeds

If you see flowers on your potato plant, you can collect seeds. These tiny seeds are found inside small green fruits that look like tomatoes.

Start indoors

How to plant potato seeds should be started indoors. Plant the seeds in small pots with potting soil. Keep them warm and water them; They should start sprouting in a few weeks.

Transplant outside

You can transplant outside once the seedlings are big enough and the weather is warm. Be careful with them because they are delicate.

Care

Care for your potato plants as you would seed potatoes, water them, and add more soil as they grow.

How to prevent potato blight

The dreaded fungal disease known as “potato blight” (Phytophthora infestans) was responsible for the Irish potato famine and can wipe out your entire crop.

To reduce the chance of infection, do not plant potatoes (or tomatoes or other nightshade family members, such as eggplant or bell peppers) in the same field until they have been in the same field for at least three years.

Also, remove any spontaneous potatoes that pop up in your garden immediately. The disease appears on tubers left over from the previous year’s crop in winter.

Sweet potatoes from seed

Potatoes differ from regular potatoes, but you can also grow them from seed. Sweet potatoes are usually grown from “cuttings,” small plants grown from a mature sweet potato.

How to Grow Sweet Potatoes from Seed

Get Sweet Potato Seeds

You can buy sweet potato seeds or cuttings at garden stores or online.

Start indoors

Like regular potatoes, plant sweet potato seeds in pots.

Plant outside

When the weather warms and the plants are large enough, plant outside in the garden or a large container.

Water and care

Sweet potatoes need warm weather and regular watering. They also prefer sandy, well-drained soil.

Harvesting

Sweet potatoes take longer to grow than regular potatoes. You can collect them in the fall before the first frost.

Cultivation of different types of potatoes

There are many types of potatoes that you can grow at home. A popular variety is the Yukon Gold seed potato. They are known for their yellow color and buttery taste. You can also try increasing other varieties like red, purple, or small.

FAQ

How to choose the right potatoes to grow

When choosing which potatoes to grow, think about what you like to eat. Different potatoes have different flavors and textures. Yukon Gold potatoes are great for mashing or roasting, while Russet potatoes are perfect for salads.

How do you plant seed potatoes?

To plant seed potatoes, dig a hole, place the seed potato with the eye facing up, and cover it with soil. Water the potato, add more soil as it grows, and you’ll have new potatoes in a few months.

Can you grow potatoes in a bag?

Yes! If you need a garden, you can grow potatoes in a bag. Follow the steps mentioned above to plant seed potatoes in a bag.