How to Transplant Potato Plants
Instead of seeds, potatoes are started from cut up potatoes. Each piece has a growing eye on it that turns into a new potato plant. Potatoes are rarely grown as transplants, as disturbing them damages the potatoes the plant is producing beneath the ground. If your gardening season is short or you just want to get a head start on your potatoes, you can grow transplants using an old English method of sprouting that is called chitting. This enables you to get the potato plants started four weeks earlier in spring than you normally would. Use early potato varieties to grow these transplants.
Cut apart the seed potatoes with a sharp knife into 1.5 inch cubes. Cut so each cube has one to two large buds or growing eyes on it.
- Instead of seeds, potatoes are started from cut up potatoes.
- If your gardening season is short or you just want to get a head start on your potatoes, you can grow transplants using an old English method of sprouting that is called chitting.
Spread potatoes out on a tray so they aren't touching. Place them so the growing bud is facing up and the cut side is down.
Place the tray in a cool 55 degrees F room to sprout. Position them so they receive bright, indirect light from a window. Place a translucent shade over a window to diffuse the light if necessary.
Transplant potatoes outside once the sprouts are half an inch long, taking care not to break the sprouts when planting. Plant deep enough so that the top of the sprout is even with the soil surface.
- Spread potatoes out on a tray so they aren't touching.
- Place the tray in a cool 55 degrees F room to sprout.
Pull soil up around the stem of the potato plant to form a hill as it grows, so that the top leaves remain above the soil surface. More potatoes will be produced from the stem as you cover it in dirt.
Tip
Transplant chitted potatoes outside in spring, one to two weeks before the last expected frost date in your area.
Chitted potatoes don't require hardening-off before transplanting.
Warning
Avoid letting the sprouts grow any longer than half an inch, as without soil and water the seed potato will begin rotting.
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References
Tips
- Transplant chitted potatoes outside in spring, one to two weeks before the last expected frost date in your area.
- Chitted potatoes don't require hardening-off before transplanting.
Warnings
- Avoid letting the sprouts grow any longer than half an inch, as without soil and water the seed potato will begin rotting.
Writer Bio
Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. Harrington's specialties include small business information, crafting, decorating and gardening.
