table of contents
- Don't throw it away, plant it
- Prepare the subsurface
- Plant sprouted potatoes
- Don't forget to pile up
- frequently asked Questions
The potato is a traditional crop and a versatile staple food. However, if they are not stored correctly, they can quickly form long germs. They shouldn't be eaten now, but can you just plant sprouted potatoes?
In a nutshell
- Germination can be delayed or accelerated under certain conditions
- Potatoes that have already sprouted are edible as long as the sprouts are no longer than one centimeter
- the longer they are, the more toxic substances the tuber contains
- Still, sprouted potatoes don't have to be thrown away
- they can be planted in beds as well as in planters
Don't throw it away, plant it
Potatoes that are already soft, wrinkled and covered with long sprouts and possibly have green spots should no longer be eaten. They can already contain so much poison (solanine) that health problems are to be feared after consumption. However, sprouted potatoes can be used very well as seed potatoes for planting in the next year and planted in the garden or in a tub. This applies both to tubers from the supermarket and from our own harvest.
Tip: If potatoes from the supermarket do not germinate completely, then they have probably been treated with a germ stop. They are not suitable for planting.
Prepare the subsurface
The tasty tubers thrive best on light to medium-heavy soils. As a result, sandy soils and sandy loam soils are optimal. They should be loosened up well and freed from old root residues and stones. In addition, a cultivation break for potatoes of at least four years must be observed in order to avoid the spread of soil-borne diseases. Quality Precultures on the other hand are lettuce, kohlrabi, French beans and endive.
The potato needs a lot of nutrients, but is sensitive to over-fertilized soils. It is best to mix ripe compost or well-rotted manure under the ground, ideally this should be done in autumn of the previous year. So the tubers are optimally supplied with magnesium, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus and potassium. Green manuring in the spring or autumn of the previous year also has a similar effect. The yields are significantly lower on rather poor soils. If the soil is optimally prepared, it can be planted.
Plant sprouted potatoes
In the bed
The germs should be at least three centimeters long for planting. The time of planting depends on the variety. The first can usually be planted from April. The soil temperature for sprouted tubers should be at least seven degrees.
- first make furrows about 15 cm deep
- Place the tubers in with the germs facing up
- Gaps between new potatoes about 30 cm
- in middle and late ripening up to 60 cm
- If there are several rows, keep a distance of 30-40 cm
- Too little spacing, mostly smaller tubers
- there must be enough soil for piling up
- then close the furrows with a rake
- It takes about four to five months to grow from planting to harvest
Note: Potatoes are sensitive to frost. So if there is another threat of frost, it is best to cover the young shoots with fleece or straw.
In the bucket
- Planters should have a capacity of 20-30 liters
- sufficient drainage holes to avoid waterlogging
- Put a 15-20 cm thick layer of potted plant soil in the tub
- alternatively, use topsoil mixed with compost
- Put sprouted potatoes on the ground
- again with the germs up
- make sure there is sufficient space between the tubers
- three to four tubers in a 10 liter pot
- Finally, cover the potatoes with soil and water
Tip: Special plant pots for potatoes are available on the market, from which the ripe tubers can be easily removed in portions.
Don't forget to pile up
Piling up is an important step in potato cultivation. On the one hand, it is supposed to support the formation of nodules and, on the other hand, to ensure that the nodules are not exposed and exposed to light. If that happens, the tubers will turn green; H. they form poisonous solanine, which makes them inedible.
- as soon as the herb is 10-15 cm high
- no matter whether in the bed or in the bucket
- pull the soil up to the plant with a hoe
- Pour soil up half of the stalk
- Repeat about every two to three weeks
- is harvested when the entire herb is wilted
So-called adventitious roots form on the part of the plant that is covered with soil, on which further potato tubers develop.
Tip: You can also get potatoes to germinate in a targeted manner by laying them out in boxes next to each other and placing them in a light, about 15 degrees warm place. If there is enough light, they will soon develop into thick and solid germs.
frequently asked Questions
First of all, you should leave them in the ground as long as possible. This gives the tubers a firmer shell, which better protects them from rot. When storing, it must be ensured that it is neither too warm nor too cold. It is best to put them in fruit trays and place them in a dark and dry place at temperatures of 5-15 degrees. Damaged and diseased tubers are not suitable for long-term storage.
This is definitely possible, for example if there are only a few seed potatoes available. Then you can cut some in half with a sharp knife and plant the halves. Provided that each of these halves has eyes and germs.
After three years at the latest, you should look around for new planting material. If you keep growing your own potatoes, there is a risk that diseases will spread through the tubers. In addition, the yield will soon decrease significantly. Not to forget a three to four year cultivation break.