What Potatoes Need to Sprout
Potatoes are a little like seedlings in
that they need light to grow. But, unlike
seedlings, they do not need a growing
medium like soil to sprout. All you need
for sprouting seed potatoes is the seed
potatoes and a bright window or a fluorescent lamp.
How to Sprout Potatoes
Before Planting
You will start sprouting potatoes three
to four weeks before planting. Buy your
seed potatoes from a reputable seed
seller. While you can sprout potatoes
that are from the grocery store, grocery
store potatoes might have diseases that
will kill the plant. It is best to grow seed
potatoes that have been treated to prevent these diseases.
The next step in sprouting or chitting potatoes is to place the potatoes in
a bright location. A sunny window or
under a fluorescent lamp are excellent
choices for this. To keep the sprouting
seed potatoes from rolling around, some
people place the potatoes in an open egg
carton. This will keep the potatoes stable
and still so that their fragile sprouts do
not get broken.
In about a week, you should see signs
that the potatoes are sprouting. After
three to four weeks, you can plant the
fully sprouted potatoes the same way you
would plant un-sprouted potatoes. Just
make sure you plant the seed potatoes
with the sprouts facing up and be careful
not to break the sprouts off while you
are planting them.
Now that you know how to sprout a
potato, you can enjoy your potato harvest
a little earlier this year. Sprouting potatoes
early, also known as chitting potatoes,
can be useful in the garden. Once
you’re growing, consider the following
fungicide tips to prevent problems
while growing potatoes.
Fungicide for Seed Potatoes
One of the biggest problems one encounters growing potatoes in the garden is the
possibility of fungus forming on the potatoes. Whether it be late blight fungus,
which was responsible for the Irish Potato
Famine, or early blight, which can be just
as devastating to a potato plant, potato
fungus can destroy your potato plants.
But, when you use fungicide for seed
potatoes, you can greatly reduce your
chances of fungus on your potatoes.
Causes of Fungus on Potatoes
The appearance of potato fungus mainly
happens because of infected seed potatoes, or planting in infected soil. Most
potato fungi not only attack potatoes,
but can also survive on (though might
not kill) other plants in the nightshade
family, such as tomatoes and peppers.
Using Potato Fungicides to
Control Fungus on Potatoes
An excellent way to prevent
blight fungus on your potatoes is
to make sure to treat your seed
potatoes with a fungicide before
you plant them. Though there are
many potato specific fungicides
available in the gardening market,
in actuality, most general fungicides will work just as well.
After you have cut up your seed
potato, thoroughly coat each piece
in the fungicide. This will help to
kill any potato fungus that might
be on the seed potato pieces. You
will also want to treat the soil that
you will be planting the potatoes in,
especially if you have had fungus
problems on potatoes in the past or
have grown other members of the
nightshade family, (which might
carry potato fungus) in that spot
before. To treat the soil where you
will eventually be planting your potatoes, pour fungicide evenly over the
area and mix it into the soil.
Making Homemade Fungicide for Seed Potatoes
This is a homemade
potato fungicide recipe.
This potato fungicide
will be effective against
weaker potato fungi, but
might not be as effective
against stronger strains
of late potato blight.
• 2 tbsp. of baking soda
• ½ tsp. cooking oil
(or bleach-free liquid soap)
• 1 gal. water
Mix all ingred ients thoroughly.
Use as you would a commercial
potato fungicide.
Maximum Yield USA | February 2014
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