Sprouts in storage.

beeman · February 2, 2011

I looked at my seed potatoes today and some have started sprouting (chitting) already. I have about 3 months before I can plant, by then they'll be useless.
Does anyone have an answer to slow them down? Colder storage maybe?

darwinslair · February 3, 2011

Colder storage might be do the trick, but you can grow the sprouts too, and then no disease issues either. Clip them a couple of inches away from the potato, root them in rooting hormone, then put them in pots.

I doubt you will get as good of yields, but if preserving a variety is the primary impetus it should work fine.

Tom

wmontanez · February 3, 2011

I am actually in a similar situation with some unique potatoes I got originally from Tom Wagner, I saved tubers from 14 varieties for spring planting and I got 2 or 3 breaking dormancy now. I took a "cutting" to try to get plants indoors and maybe set tubers this spring. My idea is to plant those seed tubers later in the summer for late fall harvest thus having those break dormancy later next year. I think that info is valuable for people that can benefit short dormancy potatoes (Southern usa/tropics). We, the northeners need longer storageability.

What are the potatoes that are you growing beeman?

February 2, 2011	#1
beeman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 692	Sprouts in storage. I looked at my seed potatoes today and some have started sprouting (chitting) already. I have about 3 months before I can plant, by then they'll be useless. Does anyone have an answer to slow them down? Colder storage maybe?

February 3, 2011	#3
wmontanez Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: MA Posts: 776	I am actually in a similar situation with some unique potatoes I got originally from Tom Wagner, I saved tubers from 14 varieties for spring planting and I got 2 or 3 breaking dormancy now. I took a "cutting" to try to get plants indoors and maybe set tubers this spring. My idea is to plant those seed tubers later in the summer for late fall harvest thus having those break dormancy later next year. I think that info is valuable for people that can benefit short dormancy potatoes (Southern usa/tropics). We, the northeners need longer storageability. What are the potatoes that are you growing beeman? __________________ Wendy

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February 3, 2011	#2
darwinslair Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lake Minnetonka MN Posts: 229	Colder storage might be do the trick, but you can grow the sprouts too, and then no disease issues either. Clip them a couple of inches away from the potato, root them in rooting hormone, then put them in pots. I doubt you will get as good of yields, but if preserving a variety is the primary impetus it should work fine. Tom