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Location

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New Brunswick

It has been raining here for the past two weeks at least, resulting in my seed potatoes sitting longer in the basement. They have fairly long sprouts on them. Should I remove them or leave them on the potato pieces and plant them sprout and all?

5/28/2005 11:12:31 PM

addison Il

i am growing potatoes for the first time this yr and i bought seed potatoes and followed the directions to the till i also had some in the bag that had long sprouts and i planted them anyways and now i have great plants and all is well just make sure when you plant them the sprouts you have are facing up thats my advice but im sure there are more experienced growers on this site lol. i have some in the ground the others in a garbaqge can all my plants are growing great i love potatoes

5/28/2005 11:55:11 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Cut them up into pieces, with a sprout on each piece, and plant. You'll get many more potatoes than by just planting one seed potatoe with multiple sprouts.

5/29/2005 1:13:29 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Leave the sprouts on. As southern suggested, cut them up so you have a sprout or two on each piece and plant them in deep loose soil. The nice thing about potatoes, they will grow no matter what, it seems.

5/29/2005 7:43:00 AM

New Brunswick

Thanks so much. My dad grew and sold potatoes for years...and guess who wasn't paying attention????? LOL. Anyway, I knew to cut up the seed with at least one eye on each...but for some reason, last year, I had seed that never did sprout and when we dug our potatoes last fall, there were a few seed that had not grown. Still firm with eyes intact. Do any of you save your small potatoes for the next years seed? I know my dad always did, but don't know which ones he kept for seed. Would any small potato do?? I am planting onions in between each potato, as I was told by a neighbour that this worked to keep potato bugs at bay. I had great luck with my potatoes last year, keeping us eating till some time in April....(but last years seed had no visable sprouts when I planted them.)

5/30/2005 7:21:05 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Straw Mulch will keep potatoe beetles at bay and make for any easier harvest

5/30/2005 10:09:13 PM