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It’s great to have sprouting potatoes during the planting season. But sometimes you wish they would grow faster.
Is there a way of getting potatoes to sprout at will?
There’s good news! You can control when potatoes sprout. Let me explain.
- Why do potatoes sprout?
- When do they sprout?
- How to sprout potatoes for growing
- Speeding up the sprouting process
Also, I answer questions regarding the safety of eating or using potatoes sprouted.
You’ll have all the information you need to start your potatoes on time and avoid common problems.
Why Do Potatoes Sprout?
The sprouting of potatoes can occur for many reasons. They may happen when you plant them, or even after you have harvested and stored them.
Even artificial indoor lighting can trigger sprouting in potatoes.
Sproutes will occur in warm conditions. Temperatures over 50 degrees Fahrenheit are required.
Potatoes sprout in moist conditions. Gardeners recommend planting potatoes in moist ground and storing them dry.
When storing potatoes near onion, or other fruits will speed up sprouting. This is because gases released by ripening fruit triggers this reaction.
How Long Does It Take For Potatoes To Sprout?
The average time it takes for potatoes to sprout in soil is between 7 and 21 days. The temperature, sunlight exposure and soil moisture level are all factors that influence the sprouting time.
They don’t require soil for sprouting because potatoes are tubers and have enough nutrients inside to support new growth.
If you do not take any steps to prevent this, potatoes that are left after harvesting will sprout in between one and three months.
How To Sprout Potatoes For Growing.
My spring potato crop is always a success when I sprout my seed potatoes in advance of planting them.
Here are some quick tips for “chitting” or sprouting potatoes to grow:
Step 1: Prep your seedlings & chitting.
Start preparing two to four weeks in advance of your planned outdoor planting.
A crop of potatoes measuring two inches in diameter with between three and five eyes per potato will yield a good harvest. Cut potatoes with many eyes into smaller segments to give them more time to cure before sprouting.
I don’t recommend using store-bought potatos for sprouting. Commercial growers spray chlorpropham on retail potatoes to prevent sprout growth while in transit and at the store. Sounds delicious, right?
The USDA permits sprout inhibitors to be used on potatoes grown commercially, but trying to grow a new plant from a potato of this type may prove to be a frustrating experiment.
You can grow organic seed potatoes.
Step 2: Set up your sprouting tray.
Set the seed potatoes with their eyes up in a container or tray. If you are using segments cut from a whole potato, ensure that the eyes can be seen.
Dividers should be placed in the container to prevent them from touching each other and falling over.
Recycling old egg cartons is the cheapest and easiest way to do so.
I would also recommend that you place your potatoes in a random order, so they are not all next to one another.
The extra space will prevent new shoots breaking, and make it easier to move the sprouting potatoes without damaging them.
Step 3: Show them the light.
Exposing your potatoes to light is the last step in getting them to sprout.
Place your trays under a grow lamp or on a sunny window sill.
Don’t worry if you don’t own a sunny window or don’t have the budget to purchase grow lights. You will see the sprouting of potatoes with any exposure to light. It may just take a little longer.
How To Speed Up Potato Sprouting.
Some gardeners forget to chit their potatoes before planting them.
There are a few ways to accelerate the sprouting of potatoes when you’re in a hurry.
After harvesting, potatoes go through a natural dormant phase that lasts between four and eight weeks.
- Set potatoes in a dark place in your refrigerator to bring them out of their dormant state. After 15 days, take them out of the refrigerator and put them in an area with light.
- bringing your potatoes in a warm environment is another way to accelerate sprouting. The heat sends a signal to the potato that it should begin growing.
You can speed up sprouts using the effect of ethylene. This is the gas that many fruits and vegetables produce. You can speed up sprouting by putting your potatoes in a bag of ripening fruit and vegetables.
Another way to promote sprouting is by increasing the humidity or moisture around the potatoes. Use slightly damp paper towels to layer between potatoes or use a mister and dampen an egg carton.
What Can You Do With Potatoes That Have Sprouted?
If you have potatoes in your storage that are sprouting, it is safe to plant them in the garden.
You can still plant your potatoes if they have sprouts and a greenish color.
It’s best to cut off some sprouts if your potato is overflowing with them. You should leave at least three to four shoots when you are transferring a potato to your garden.
Use gloves or thoroughly wash your hands after touching sprouts. They contain a toxin called Solanine, which potatoes produce in order to keep pests away from the plant.
Is It Ok To Eat Sprouted Potatoes?
Sprouted potatoes are safe for consumption, as long as they are still firm and that the sprouts or any other green skin or flesh have been removed.
Cut off the green parts of the potato with a knife. This will reduce the amount of toxic substances in your food.
The sprouts are toxic and can even cause death if consumed in high concentrations. symptoms include cramps, nausea and vomiting.
After removing the sprouts from a potato, it can still taste bitter. This is also when starches are converted to sugars, lowering the nutritional value. Pass on sprouted potatoes if you have any other potatoes.
In summary.
Every survivalist should plant potatoes in their backyard .
Use this knowledge to accelerate your potato harvest.
Knowing what factors affect sprouting will help you to better preserve your potatoes.
This guide will help you to improve your results in gardening. I encourage you to share it with friends and family.
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