Old Reliable
Veteran Member
Can I by potatoes at the story to save and plant them next spring?
We may note be able to get seed potatoes come spring?
We may note be able to get seed potatoes come spring?
Planting Can I buy potatoes at the story to save and plant them next spring?
- Thread starter Old Reliable
- Start date
You can, but most are sprayed with sprout retardant. Organic potatoes would be your best option. But remember that they aren't certified seed, and *could* introduce disease to your soil.
The sprout retardant wears off over time, so if you can't find organic, you're not completely out of luck.
Summerthyme
The sprout retardant wears off over time, so if you can't find organic, you're not completely out of luck.
Summerthyme
Chicken Mama
Veteran Member
Last year I planted sweet potatoes and when digging up must have missed a couple. This Spring two groups of plants sprung up so I snapped some off and stuck in a dozen other places in the beds. ALL grew and we got a nice harvest of potatoes this year.
So I buried a couple small ones and hope they resprout next Spring.
So I buried a couple small ones and hope they resprout next Spring.
You can do that with sweet potatoes. Irish potatoes are very disease prone, and overwintered volunteers are a major reservoir.
Summerthyme
Bps1691
Veteran Member
We used to save some of our better potatoes in potato crates in the coolest, driest, darkest part of my grandparent's basement for seed potatoes for the next year. Grandma would check them a couple of times through the winter and pull out any that were sprouting or showed any sign of starting to rot. 90+% of grandpa's potatoes were purchased seed potatoes.
If you have any disease in your harvest, you don't want to save any of your potatoes.
As said earlier, many of the store potatoes are treated. You can also introduce disease from them because you are not sure where they come from or how they've been transported. Certified seed potatoes from a long established grower is the best route.
My daughter and I place our seed potato order as soon as the vendor's we use will take them for the new year. Do the same for our fall planting of garlic and get it ordered as soon as it shows up as open for orders.
If you have any disease in your harvest, you don't want to save any of your potatoes.
As said earlier, many of the store potatoes are treated. You can also introduce disease from them because you are not sure where they come from or how they've been transported. Certified seed potatoes from a long established grower is the best route.
My daughter and I place our seed potato order as soon as the vendor's we use will take them for the new year. Do the same for our fall planting of garlic and get it ordered as soon as it shows up as open for orders.
Martinhouse
Deceased
When I buy grocery store potatoes for any "just-in-case" planting the following season, I make sure I can see little sprouts starting in the eyes and choose the bags of them that have the best sprouts.
Also I read somewhere a few years back that the amount of sprout retardant allowed to be sprayed on potatoes had been reduced to a third as much.
I've done my planting with these a few times and luckily never had a disease problem.
Also I read somewhere a few years back that the amount of sprout retardant allowed to be sprayed on potatoes had been reduced to a third as much.
I've done my planting with these a few times and luckily never had a disease problem.
If they make eyes they will grow. Be careful you can introduce disease to your soil that way.
I rotate potatoes every year to different beds to cut the disease chain keeping a diagram each year to show which bed they were in. On the fourth year i buy new seed, and start back at the first bed. The fall planted garlic goes in the bed the potatoes just came out of, so that puts the garlic on a three year rotation, too. I save my own garlic seed cloves too, unless some disease crops up, but i've had good luck with that.
In regard to buying even organic store potatoes to use for seed, not every variety in your store will grow well in local conditions. One year I tried organic russets here, and then found out russets do poorly in this part of Alaska. Live and learn!
In regard to buying even organic store potatoes to use for seed, not every variety in your store will grow well in local conditions. One year I tried organic russets here, and then found out russets do poorly in this part of Alaska. Live and learn!
Yes they will absolutely keep. Cool and dark is the key. I save my best potatoes from our harvest for seed the following year. I save them solely in case seed potatoes are not avail. Once I get my seed potatoes I pitch the remaining ones I saved. It is a bit wasteful but it ensures I get good seed to start each year. Are there any local farm stands around you that grow potatoes? maybe you could get some there. Less likely to be sprayed. Save them but order seed potatoes as well.
TxGal
Day by day
In case anyone finds it hard to get seed potatoes in their area:
Certified Organic Maine Certified Seed Potatoes Archives - Wood Prairie Family Farm
Certified Organic Maine Certified Seed Potatoes Archives - Wood Prairie Family Farm
Babs
Veteran Member
Thanks for the resource!
I'd really like to order some NOW before the rush, but they'd likely freeze on the way across the country.
No, they will ship at the proper time for planting... they don't want to them to freeze, either!
Summerthyme
Babs
Veteran Member
I guess I should have read the shipping information. Thanks, Summerthyme!
Fairwillows
Where I am supposed to be.
I buy potatoes from my Mennonite friend, save what I don't use in a paper bag and store in a cool place. They have always sprouted.
Buick Electra
TB2K Girls with Guns
Thank you! Just ordered some Butte seed potatoes, a book on how to grow potatoes, potato fertilizer, some paper potato bags, and some winter Burgess Buttercup squash. This will be a first for me! Couldn't find any sour cream bush seeds though.
I vaguely remember my grandfather dusting his seed potatoes with some kind of white powder. Anyone know what that would have been and is it still done?
Chicken Mama
Veteran Member
I'm still looking for bacon seeds to go along with the taters.
Likely slaked lime, to try to prevent the seed pieces from rotting. Some folks use sulfur dust.
Summerthyme
TxGal
Day by day
You're welcome! I got the Red Norlands again, they generally do very well for us. For the first time I got the potato fertilizer, I'm hoping we'll have a really good harvest given the wacky grocery shopping of late.
Marie
Veteran Member
Walrus Whisperer
Hope in chains...
I would soak them in mild soapy water and then a scrub with a dish brush if that's a concern.