Are store-bought potatoes viable as seed?

HieronRemade 5/24/2011, 4:32 pm

I threw a few old, chopped up russet potatoes from the store into my compost pile a while back, and when I checked on the pile yesterday I saw that a decent-sized potato plant is growing out of it! I was wondering if the fact that the plant is growing automatically means that it will grow potatoes? I don't need that compost pile until next year so I'd rather just continue to add compost materials to the top without turning and let the potatoes grow if I can! The other question is whether any growing potatoes will even survive in a compost pile without getting composted?

ModernDayBetty 5/24/2011, 7:39 pm

My personal experience has been that when you don't want them to grow, they do, but when you want them to they don't! They are sprayed with a growth inhibitor that keeps them from sprouting. But once they sprout you're good to go. I've been hoping that some of my potatoes would grow but no such luck, just getting wrinkly and gross.

HieronRemade 5/24/2011, 9:25 pm

Ah ok thanks for the info! I knew they sprayed them with something but I wasn't sure exactly what it entailed. Ok maybe I'll let it go and see what happens.

Here's a pic btw, if anyone's interested.
Potatoes - Are store-bought potatoes viable as seed? IMG_1911

Potatoes - Are store-bought potatoes viable as seed? IMG_1911

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Are store-bought potatoes viable as seed?

Are store-bought potatoes viable as seed?

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Re: Are store-bought potatoes viable as seed?


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