How to Make Seed Potatoes

Gardeners are very much a “do it yourself” lot. We thoroughly enjoy participating in every step of the gardening process. The most avid gardeners harvest, dry, and save seeds for next year’s planting. So, why not make your own seed potatoes? The steps below show you how to make seed potatoes. If any of the spuds in your kitchen pantry have eyes, you have what you need to make them

Did You Know? Potato plants actually produce true potato seeds. The plant produces flowers that eventually turn to seeds. But, the seeds take more work to gather and dry. And it takes a lot longer for a potato plant to grow from seed to reach the harvest stage.

It’s very easy to make seed potatoes for the gardening season. Choose your favorite potato variety. You can use any potatoes, from traditional white potatoes to Idaho and Russet. All you need are potatoes with eyes, and you’re on your way to growing a great crop of spuds!

How to Make Seed Potatoes

Here’s how to make seed potatoes:

Source your potato tubers from last year’s crop or even store-bought potatoes. It is important to note, that some store-bought potatoes have been treated to resist the formation of eyes. Whether or not they have been treated is usually not noted on the package. Purchasing organic potatoes is a wise choice, as they are not treated.
Prepare seed potatoes in the late winter or early spring, several weeks before you are ready to use them. You can prepare them earlier, but with a later start, you will not have to store them for long.
Select potatoes that have “eyes” or “dimples”. Choose a few more than you think you will need. You can always give away any leftover potato seeds to appreciative fellow gardeners.
Put the potatoes on a tray and place them in indirect light at room temperature and humidity.
After 10 days, check them to see if the eyes have begun to sprout.
Once the eyes have sprouted, take a sharp knife and cut each potato into at least one to two-inch pieces. Each piece must have at least one sprouted eye.
Place all pieces on a shallow tray and allow the cut sides to dry for 2-3 days. The cut side will dry and turn brown (scab over).
Your seed potatoes are ready to plant or store.
Store finished seed potatoes in a cool, dry, and dark place until ready to plant.

More Information: How to plant and grow potatoes.

Did You Know? All parts of the potato plant except the tuber are toxic.