When will my potatoes have sprout enough?

[DoubleDogFarm]

thats why I'm growing it, so I can have the seeds. I don't have any tps, I only ate a fruit or 2. the juice tastes bad, but the not juice part taste like rubarb

Alright will someonw please address this!!


Eric

[weterman]

Yeah I've been worrying since yesterday that we didn't cover how to plant.

New potatoes grow along the underground stem that grows ABOVE the seed potato, so yes, you should really empty the bucket down to about 6"-8" of soil mix and plant the seed potato just under the soil. Then as the plant grows, add more soil mix maybe mixed with leaves or hay, all the way to top of the bucket. You will probably need support for the rest of the plant as it grows even taller, so you may need something like a tomato cage or four bamboo stakes and twine... But that will be later. You will need to get the light as close as you can to the top of the foliage so support system will be in the way at first.

ok ill do that.

but is it normal for nothing to happen after a week? I would think that the sprout would be a little longer after a week.

and I should water it until water drips through my holes at the bottom? and it wont drown it?

[applestar]

Once planted, it will be growing roots at first so it's normal for nothing to show up above ground. In fact when you plant it in the ground outside in spring while the ground is barely warm enough, absolutely nothing seems to happen for about 3 weeks. Remember, the soil temperature needs to be 55°F or warmer. (get a thermometer to keep track of the ambient temperature and position it at soil height above the floor, not at eye level.)

As long as the soil mix is well draining and you have put plenty of drainage holes in the bucket, watering as described won't drown the seed potato. As the water percolates down, air is drawn through the soil from above, BUT you must make sure not to let the bucket sit in the drained water which prevents this process. Assuming you have some kind of catch tray underneath, you may want to elevate the bucket on some rocks, empty tuna cans, etc.

[rainbowgardener]

thats why I'm growing it, so I can have the seeds. I don't have any tps, I only ate a fruit or 2. the juice tastes bad, but the not juice part taste like rubarb

Alright will someonw please address this!!


Eric

feel free, it didn't quite make sense to me. But I assume you are talking about this:

Potato Fruits Are Toxic, Despite Looking Like Green Cherry Tomatoes
Potato fruits are high in solanine, a substance that is toxic to humans, particularly children. Potato fruits should not be eaten raw or cooked, no matter how much they look like tomatoes!
https://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/weeklypics/8-10-09.html

[weterman]

Assuming you have some kind of catch tray underneath, you may want to elevate the bucket on some rocks, empty tuna cans, etc.

ok I put something under them, it gives about half a centimeter from the ground. that good enough?

[weterman]

thats why I'm growing it, so I can have the seeds. I don't have any tps, I only ate a fruit or 2. the juice tastes bad, but the not juice part taste like rubarb

Alright will someonw please address this!!


Eric

feel free, it didn't quite make sense to me. But I assume you are talking about this:

Potato Fruits Are Toxic, Despite Looking Like Green Cherry Tomatoes
Potato fruits are high in solanine, a substance that is toxic to humans, particularly children. Potato fruits should not be eaten raw or cooked, no matter how much they look like tomatoes!
https://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/weeklypics/8-10-09.html

ok thats why I felt real messed up that day : P

[weterman]

ok I just poured a cup full of water in there, and the water sat on top for a little bit, and then it sunk down. a bit after I felt under one of the holes, and it was a tiny bit wet. is my water draining good enough?

[rainbowgardener]

One cup isn't nearly enough water for a 5 gallon bucket of soil. Try 4 cups and that might still possibly not be enough. You need to get all that soil moistened and then it should be running out the bottom. You want to be generous with water and then not water it again until the chopstick is drying out.

As was stated let the water run out the bottom and then drain it, don't let your pot sit in the water.

[weterman]

One cup isn't nearly enough water for a 5 gallon bucket of soil. Try 4 cups and that might still possibly not be enough. You need to get all that soil moistened and then it should be running out the bottom. You want to be generous with water and then not water it again until the chopstick is drying out.

As was stated let the water run out the bottom and then drain it, don't let your pot sit in the water.

ok the water was draining out the holes.

[jal_ut]

My son has been experimenting with true potato seeds. It seems that if you plant seeds for two or three generations, the plants then seem to put on more fruit. I guess they have been propagated from tubers for so long that the fruit end of it has been neglected.

If you want to search for new and interesting varieties, then starting from seed is the way to go. This way you can get some genetic diversity and perhaps an interesting cultivar will show up. When you see something you like, then propagate it from tubers for a couple of years.



Here are some of my son's taters grown from seed. Notice that in some of the cups he also included the fruit of the plant?

[jal_ut]

I haven't personally grown potatoes from seed, however if you want to do so, start the seeds like you would start your tomato seeds. The culture is the same. Put transplants out when danger of frost is past.

[jal_ut]

As noted, potato seed/fruit is poisonous. Do Not Eat.

[weterman]

As noted, potato seed/fruit is poisonous. Do Not Eat.

gotchya

[rainbowgardener]

So weterman, last we heard from you was weeks ago. Are there any potato plants yet?

[weterman]

So weterman, last we heard from you was weeks ago. Are there any potato plants yet?

no, should there be already?

I have a question, though. will the plant pop up without light? or would it need the light to come out of the ground?

[rainbowgardener]

It doesn't need light. It is buried, so the light wouldn't make any difference until it gets above ground.

Yes, you planted it like a month ago? Should have been above ground by now. Remember applestar awhile back telling you: "absolutely nothing seems to happen for about 3 weeks" It's been more than that now. In cold soil outdoors, it might take a month. In warm soil, it might have been only 2 weeks. I would dig one up and see what is happening. If it has sprouted and looks ok, you can just bury it back. But I'm thinking there's a good chance you will find it just sat there and rotted. I have had that happen even in outdoor containers.

[weterman]

It doesn't need light. It is buried, so the light wouldn't make any difference until it gets above ground.

Yes, you planted it like a month ago? Should have been above ground by now. Remember applestar awhile back telling you: "absolutely nothing seems to happen for about 3 weeks" It's been more than that now. In cold soil outdoors, it might take a month. In warm soil, it might have been only 2 weeks. I would dig one up and see what is happening. If it has sprouted and looks ok, you can just bury it back. But I'm thinking there's a good chance you will find it just sat there and rotted. I have had that happen even in outdoor containers.

ya I dug it up, the potato was unchanged.

[weterman]

what would you think caused the potato to fail?

[billw]

Had it sprouted before you planted it? This is not the usual time of year for potatoes to break dormancy, so you either need one that was harvested very early this year or a type that has minimal dormancy. (Or to treat the tuber with chemicals that will help to break dormancy. https://www.cipotato.org/library/pdfdocs ... e32465.pdf)

[weterman]

Had it sprouted before you planted it? This is not the usual time of year for potatoes to break dormancy, so you either need one that was harvested very early this year or a type that has minimal dormancy. (Or to treat the tuber with chemicals that will help to break dormancy. https://www.cipotato.org/library/pdfdocs ... e32465.pdf)

ya it already sprouted. It came from my garden.