Potato Seed Germination, Temperature, Time, Process

Potato Seed Germination, Temperature, Time, Process

Introduction to potato seed germination process: Potatoes are very easy to care for and produce a large yield. Potato plants are grown from small tubers or seed potatoes generally emerge within 3 to 4 weeks when you use certified seed potatoes. And give them proper growing conditions and keep them free from disease. Potato tubers germinating before planting them helps increase the growth of young plants, bring the harvest a few days or weeks earlier, and increase the plant harvest. This method doesn’t apply to pre-germinated potatoes purchased in horticulture stores, which are ready-plant potatoes. In this article we also discussed below topics;

• Time to take potatoes to sprout
• Potato seed germination temperature
• Process of growing potatoes
• Do potatoes need to sprout before planting
• Process of growing potatoes from seed potatoes
• How many potatoes do you obtain per plant
• Potato seed germination time

What are we waiting for? Let’s us get into the details of seed germination process of potato.

A guide to potato seed germination process

Soil conditions for growing potato

• Requires acid soil
• Requires well-drained soil

Potato plants prefer well-drained, light, deep, loose soil, high in organic matter. Unlike most vegetables, potatoes perform best in acid soil with a pH level of 4.8 – 5.5. (Scab is less of a problem at low pH. If pH level is more than 6.0, use scab-resistant varieties.). The plant needs plentiful, consistent moisture.

Sprout development – During this stage, the eyes from the potato piece develop sprouts that emerge from the ground. These sprouts become the visible, above-ground portion of the plant, the stems, and leaves. The piece of potato is the source of nutrition for the plant. The temperature range of the soil will affect how long this stage takes and sprouting will not happen if the soil temperatures are too close to freezing.

Vegetative growth – This vegetative stage of the potato’s growth cycle is when the visible portion of the plant emerges and develops. The plant leaves, stem, and root system of the plant grow and photosynthesis begins, providing nourishment for the growing plant. During this stage, warmer temperatures of 77°F or more and long days of 14 to 18 hours of sunlight are preferred. The sprouting and the vegetative states in potato combined can last from 30 to 70 days. The leaves, stems, and root system form, photosynthesis begins, and the potato plant prepares to store nutrients in tubers.

Cutting potatoes before planting

A week or two before your planting date set your seed potatoes in an area where they will be exposed to light and temperatures between 60-70°F. This will begin the sprouting method. A day or two before planting, use a sharp knife to slice the larger seed potatoes into smaller pieces. Each piece must be approximately 2 inches square and must contain at least 1 or 2 eyes or buds. Then plant smaller potatoes whole. And a good rule of thumb is to plant potatoes whole if they are smaller in size than a golf ball. In a day or your seed will form a thick callous over the cuts, which will help prevent rotting.

Planting potatoes in the garden

We find that potatoes are best developed in rows. To begin with, dig a trench that is 6 to 8 inches deep. Plant each piece of potato (cut side down, with the eyes pointing up) every 12 to 15 inches, with the rows spaced 3 feet apart. If your space is limited or if you would like to grow baby potatoes, you can decrease the spacing between plants.

Grow potatoes from seed potatoes

Seed potatoes could be whole potatoes or pieces of whole potatoes. A seed potato should have at least one eye to sprout. An “eye” is a puckered spot where sprouts can be developed.

1. Plant certified disease-free seed potatoes and supermarket potatoes have been chemically treated to prevent sprouting.
2. About 2 or 3 weeks before planting, set seed potatoes in a bright, 65° to 70°F place to encourage sprouting.
3. Cut whole seed potatoes into pieces with a sharp knife 2 days before planting; each piece should have at least two eyes.
4. Plant seed potatoes in a hole or trench 4 inches deep and cover with about 2 inches of soil. Plant cut pieces with the cut side down.
5. Sow seed potatoes about 12 to 18 inches apart; space rows 24 to 36 inches apart.
6. When seedlings or developing sprouts emerge, add the remaining 2 inches of soil to the hole or trench.
7. Keep adding light soil as plants grow tall and leave the top two sets of leaves exposed.
8. Potatoes also can be planted on top of the ground if they are covered with about 12-inch thick mulch of straw or hay.

Germinate potatoes

1. First, use a small crate or an egg carton.
2. Then line up the potatoes along the bottom, only a single layer.
3. If a bud is already present, turn it so that it faces upwards.
4. Expose the potatoes to the light in a dry, cool and well-ventilated place.
5. The ideal preservation temperature between 40°F and 50°F (10°C to 15°C).
6. Potatoes take about 4 to 6 weeks to germinate.

Using your potato plants for germinating

It is perfectly possible to use the previous year’s potatoes to make germination.

1. Pull them out 4 weeks before the potato harvest.
2. Select potatoes that are not diseased and come from vigorous plants.
3. Let them sit on the ground for a few days.
4. Select tubers that have resisted best, with no sign of rotting.
5. Store them in a cool and ventilated space until the following year.
6. A few weeks after having begun to germinate, when the soil is averaging temperature range of around 55°F (12°C), it is time to plant them to the ground and grow potatoes for a beautiful harvest.