I've never grown potatoes before...

[pheasantplucker]

Bought some Yukons and some Reds today. They're sprouting "eyes". The taters feel a little soft...not quite "spongey". All the potatoes in all the bags felt this way. Is this normal?

[Beeman]

Cut them into pieces with at least 1 eye in each piece. Lay them out on trays,cardboard or what have you and let them dry for a day or so before planting.

[Waiting Falcon]

Think I would check into them cutting a few open. Yukon golds are more prone to heart rot. BUT planting them in compost seems to take care of that problem. Are your potatoes wrinkled , do they have lots of eyes (beginning growth on them?

[Paquebot]

There's nothing wrong with them. They are just naturally dehydrating. That's why they are soft. If you put them in water, they would just about return to normal but you don't have to do that. Anything smaller than a pullet egg can be planted whole. If full-sized chicken egg, cut in half.

Martin

[unregistered65598]

Just cut and plant, we have never had to cut and let ours dry before planting. We have gotten good yields every year.

[fatrat]

They are usually a little soft but that's normal. We used to just plant the sprouting potatoes we had from the grocery store but nowdays they wash them in chemicals to inhibit sprouting. All the experts say never plant grocery store potatoes because they are not certified seed and can have diseases. We never had a problem. They always did well. Though now days I don't know how they would do with the chemicals on them to inhibit sprouting. Has anyone tried?

[Paquebot]

Originally Posted by fatrat

They are usually a little soft but that's normal. We used to just plant the sprouting potatoes we had from the grocery store but nowdays they wash them in chemicals to inhibit sprouting. All the experts say never plant grocery store potatoes because they are not certified seed and can have diseases. We never had a problem. They always did well. Though now days I don't know how they would do with the chemicals on them to inhibit sprouting. Has anyone tried?

They don't have any chemicals on them. If there were, it would have to be included in the list of ingredients since people do eat the peelings.

Martin

[Sanza]

I read a story once about settlers here in Alberta..... only one family had potatos that winter/spring and the neighbours came for some for planting.....they cooked and ate the potatos, gave the potato water to the babies to drink, and they planted the peels.
I tried planting just the peels and it worked and I had huge potatos out of those hills. I'm pretty sure they were storebought ones also.

But, I know the big potato farmers use roundup on the vines to desicate them before they can harvest them and sometimes you can taste a bit of it.

[pheasantplucker]

Thanks folks...I should have included that these were potatoes meant for planting...not just from a grocery store. How many potatoes would an average potato plant produce in a season? Each of these is about the size of a golf ball. I have 10 Yukons and 10 reds.

[Yvonne's hubby]

Originally Posted by pheasantplucker

Thanks folks...I should have included that these were potatoes meant for planting...not just from a grocery store. How many potatoes would an average potato plant produce in a season? Each of these is about the size of a golf ball. I have 10 Yukons and 10 reds.

I always figure on getting about an 8 to 1 yield or so. I generally plant about a hundred pounds and harvest around eight hundred.

[geo in mi]

Originally Posted by pheasantplucker

Thanks folks...I should have included that these were potatoes meant for planting...not just from a grocery store. How many potatoes would an average potato plant produce in a season? Each of these is about the size of a golf ball. I have 10 Yukons and 10 reds.

Let me guess, you bought them from Meijer or WalMart at the display? Potatoes are pretty flexible(no pun intended, if they are slightly shrivelled). At the size of golf balls, you probably should plant them whole. Eight or ten to one is a pretty good yield. Each hill, therefore, will give you eight or nine potatoes of varying sizes--that depending on fertility of your soil and moisture they get, and depending on the variety of the red ones.

Best of luck

geo

[mnn2501]

Originally Posted by fatrat

They are usually a little soft but that's normal. We used to just plant the sprouting potatoes we had from the grocery store but nowdays they wash them in chemicals to inhibit sprouting. All the experts say never plant grocery store potatoes because they are not certified seed and can have diseases. We never had a problem. They always did well. Though now days I don't know how they would do with the chemicals on them to inhibit sprouting. Has anyone tried?

I plant grocery store potatoes every year and never have a problem and get a pretty good yield. If its got eye's you can plant them.

[Paquebot]

Originally Posted by pheasantplucker

Thanks folks...I should have included that these were potatoes meant for planting...not just from a grocery store. How many potatoes would an average potato plant produce in a season? Each of these is about the size of a golf ball. I have 10 Yukons and 10 reds.

Each plant should produce 3 potatoes under normal conditions. There will be one large, one medium, and one small. If conditions are better, the number of smalls increase and first small becomes another medium. And since there are usually 3 or 4 plants which may sprout from a single piece, there can be a dozen or more potatoes from a single hill.

Originally Posted by mnn2501

I plant grocery store potatoes every year and never have a problem and get a pretty good yield. If its got eye's you can plant them.

Exception to that is some of the fingerlings which are known for having short dormancy. The most frequently seen brand is Rocky Mountain Gourmet Fingerlings. They may develop a tiny sprout if planted but will not go beyond that stage. It is not that they have been washed or sprayed with anything. It's because their parent seed pieces were treated with maleic hydrazide. It does not affect the parent plant but rather their offspring. The purpose is twofold. One is to increase shelf life in the stores. The other is to eliminate volunteers since it is virtually impossible to harvest every single fingerling tuber.

Martin

[stef]

With apologies to the OP (or, perhaps they might benefit from the answer, too)...a couple years ago, when I harvested potatoes from my little patch, they had tiny white bumps all over them, with a slightly off odor.

I let them air dry and they were okay, although the bumps hardened. It was an extremely wet year, if that had anything to do with it.

Although, maybe I planted them in the wrong place? It was the second time in the same spot. Have read not to do that more than twice.

[rickfrosty]

Originally Posted by fatrat

They are usually a little soft but that's normal. We used to just plant the sprouting potatoes we had from the grocery store but nowdays they wash them in chemicals to inhibit sprouting. All the experts say never plant grocery store potatoes because they are not certified seed and can have diseases. We never had a problem. They always did well. Though now days I don't know how they would do with the chemicals on them to inhibit sprouting. Has anyone tried?

Well, if they are already sprouting ??

[Vickie44]

And may I just add that you will be thrilled when you taste your own potatoes, so much better than the store! Dig some of the red ones early as a treat , they are delish

[Paquebot]

Originally Posted by Stef

With apologies to the OP (or, perhaps they might benefit from the answer, too)...a couple years ago, when I harvested potatoes from my little patch, they had tiny white bumps all over them, with a slightly off odor.

I let them air dry and they were okay, although the bumps hardened. It was an extremely wet year, if that had anything to do with it.

Although, maybe I planted them in the wrong place? It was the second time in the same spot. Have read not to do that more than twice.

That's from being too wet and just one more reason for hilling so that the potatoes are formed in a zone which drains better. If the soil is heavy, addition of 15% sand will help with the ability to dry faster after heavy rains.

Martin

[pheasantplucker]

Thanks folks...looking forward to them. Yes I bought them at Lowes' My wife and I have grown beets, peas, peppers, corn cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, garlic, onions, horseradish, yellow, zucchini squash, canteloupe, watermelons, and pumpkins, but we have never grown potatoes...Your input has given me enthusiasm. Thanks!

[Yvonne's hubby]

Originally Posted by pheasantplucker

Thanks folks...looking forward to them. Yes I bought them at Lowes' My wife and I have grown beets, peas, peppers, corn cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, garlic, onions, horseradish, yellow, zucchini squash, canteloupe, watermelons, and pumpkins, but we have never grown potatoes...Your input has given me enthusiasm. Thanks!

taters are a bit different than the other crops you mentioned, be sure to leave plenty of space twixt them so you can pull the dirt up around them as they grow. By digging time you should have a "hill" about a foot higher than the valley between them. another tip is to be sure you keep the tater bugs off of them. look under the leaves for little clusters of yellow/orange eggs. just pinch them twixt yer fingers before they hatch and you solve that problem.

[Beeman]

Double check but I believe it's bonemeal that is good to put in the trench. As soon as the sprouts start begin looking for potato bugs. Use a pair of pliers and squish every bug you find before they lay eggs. You'll be amazed how that will help cut down the number of potato bugs and the need for spraying or dusting.