Growing Potatoes from Store-Bought or Seed Potatoes: A Step-by-Step Guide

Growing Potatoes from Store-Bought or Seed Potatoes: A Step-by-Step Guide

Growing your own potatoes can be a rewarding experience that transforms simple store-bought or seed potatoes into a bountiful harvest. Whether you choose to purchase certified seed potatoes or repurpose a healthy potato from the store, with the right preparation and care, you can enjoy delicious, homegrown spuds in your garden. This step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know—from selecting the right potatoes and preparing your growing area to planting, caring for, and harvesting your crop.

1. Introduction: The Joy of Growing Your Own Potatoes

There’s something incredibly satisfying about growing your own food, and potatoes are a classic garden staple that reward you with a delicious and versatile crop. Whether you have a spacious garden or are working with containers, growing potatoes—from store-bought or seed potatoes—is accessible and straightforward. This guide will walk you through every step of the process, ensuring you start with the best practices to achieve a healthy, bountiful harvest.

2. Understanding Store-Bought vs. Seed Potatoes

Seed Potatoes:
These are certified, disease-free potatoes specifically grown for planting. They come in various sizes and varieties, ensuring reliable results.
Store-Bought Potatoes:
In a pinch, you can use a healthy, firm potato from the supermarket. However, be cautious as they may carry diseases. Always choose organic potatoes if using store-bought ones and check for signs of damage or rot.
Preparation:
Regardless of the source, it’s essential to “chit” the potatoes before planting (i.e., encourage sprouting) for optimal growth.

3. Selecting the Right Potato Varieties

Early Varieties:
These produce a quick crop and are great for new potatoes.
Examples: ‘Swift’, ‘Charlotte’
Maincrop Varieties:
These require a longer growing season and yield larger tubers, ideal for storage.
Examples: ‘Maris Piper’, ‘King Edward’
Specialty Varieties:
Unique in flavor and texture, they offer culinary variety.
Examples: ‘Desiree’, ‘Red Pontiac’

Choose the variety that best suits your culinary needs and the length of your growing season.

4. Preparing Your Growing Area

Location:
Choose a site that receives full sun (at least 6-8 hours daily) to promote robust growth.
Soil Preparation:
Potatoes prefer loose, well-draining soil. Work in plenty of organic matter—such as compost or well-rotted manure—to improve fertility and drainage. Raised beds or containers are excellent options if your garden soil is heavy or poorly drained.
Soil pH:
Aim for a slightly acidic to neutral pH (around 5.5-7.0) for optimal potato growth.

5. Chitting and Preparing Potatoes for Planting

Chitting:
Place seed potatoes (or healthy store-bought potatoes) in a cool, light location (such as an egg carton) for 2-4 weeks. This encourages the formation of strong, short sprouts (or “chits”) on the potato.
Cutting (if necessary):
If your seed potatoes are large, cut them into pieces, ensuring each piece has at least one or two eyes. Allow the cut pieces to dry for a day to form a callus, which helps prevent rot when planted.

6. Planting Techniques and Spacing

Timing:
In the UK, plant your chitted potatoes in early spring (around March to April) once the soil has warmed and the risk of frost is low.
Trench Method:
Dig trenches about 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) deep. Place the seed potatoes with the eyes facing up, spaced about 30 cm apart. Cover with soil and water thoroughly.
Container Planting:
For container gardening, choose a large pot or grow bag with ample drainage. Plant one or two potato pieces per container, ensuring they have enough room to grow, and fill with a loose, well-draining potting mix.
Hilling:
As plants grow, mound additional soil around the base of the stems to encourage tuber development. Repeat this process periodically throughout the growing season.

7. Essential Care Practices: Watering, Feeding & Hilling

Watering

Consistent Moisture:
Potatoes require regular watering, especially during tuber formation. Ensure the soil is moist but not waterlogged.
Deep Watering:
Water deeply to encourage strong root growth. Avoid shallow, frequent watering which can lead to poor tuber development.

Feeding

Organic Fertilizer:
Use a balanced organic fertilizer or compost tea during the growing season to provide essential nutrients.
Supplemental Top Dressing:
Apply a light top dressing of compost mid-season to boost nutrient availability.

Hilling

Purpose:
Hilling is critical to encourage tuber production by mounding soil around the plants as they grow.
Technique:
When plants reach about 15 cm tall, gently mound soil around the base, covering the lower stems while leaving the top leaves exposed. Repeat as needed.

8. Harvesting Your Potatoes

Early Varieties:
Harvest “new potatoes” about 10-12 weeks after planting for tender, small tubers.
Maincrop Varieties:
Harvest when the foliage begins to yellow and die back, usually 15-20 weeks after planting. Carefully dig around the plant to lift the tubers without damaging them.
Post-Harvest:
Let potatoes dry for a few hours in a cool, dark place before storing in a well-ventilated area.

9. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Pest Problems:
Keep an eye out for potato beetles and aphids. Hand-pick pests or use organic insecticides as needed.
Fungal Diseases:
Ensure proper drainage and avoid overwatering to prevent diseases like late blight.
Nutrient Deficiencies:
Yellowing leaves may indicate a lack of nutrients—supplement with compost or balanced fertilizer.
Hilling Issues:
Inadequate hilling can result in poor tuber formation. Ensure you hill the plants regularly as they grow.

10. Top 10 Questions and Answers

Q: When is the best time to plant potatoes in the UK?
A: Plant seed potatoes in early spring (March to April) once the soil is workable and frost risk is low.
Q: What are seed potatoes?
A: Seed potatoes are disease-free tubers (or pieces of tubers) specifically grown for planting.
Q: How do I prepare seed potatoes before planting?
A: “Chit” them by placing them in a cool, light location for 2-4 weeks until sprouts appear. For large potatoes, cut into pieces with at least one eye and allow them to callus.
Q: How deep should potatoes be planted?
A: Plant them in trenches 10-15 cm deep, with the seed potatoes spaced about 30 cm apart.
Q: What is hilling and why is it important?
A: Hilling is the process of mounding soil around the base of the plants as they grow, which encourages the formation of additional tubers.
Q: How often should I water my potato plants?
A: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during tuber formation, but ensure it is well-drained to avoid waterlogging.
Q: What type of fertilizer is best for potatoes?
A: Use an organic, balanced fertilizer or compost tea to provide essential nutrients throughout the growing season.
Q: When should I harvest new potatoes?
A: New potatoes can be harvested approximately 10-12 weeks after planting, while maincrop varieties should be harvested when the foliage begins to die back.
Q: How can I prevent pest issues in my potato crop?
A: Monitor for pests like potato beetles and aphids, and use organic pest control methods if necessary.
Q: How should I store harvested potatoes?
A: Allow potatoes to dry for a few hours in a cool, dark area before storing them in a well-ventilated, cool, and dark place.

11. Conclusion: Enjoy a Bountiful Potato Harvest

Growing potatoes from store-bought or seed potatoes is a fulfilling way to produce a bountiful, homegrown crop. By selecting quality seed potatoes, preparing your growing area with nutrient-rich soil, and following essential care practices like regular watering, feeding, and proper hilling, you can overcome common challenges and enjoy a rewarding harvest. Whether you’re after tender new potatoes or a robust maincrop yield, following these steps will help you turn your garden into a potato paradise.

Table of Contents