Cutting potato seeds

[Ofer]

I heard a version saying to cut potatoes to use as potato seeds,
Does it mean I can cut the potato seeds?
Have anyone doing it this way?

Anyone knows if it better than just planting seeds?

[Ofer]

[Unwashed]

Shalom achi, welcome to A4A.

All the seed potato really needs to get going is an eye - that's why potato peelings will grown on the compost heap - so if you cut up a seed potato making sure each piece has an eye then inprinciple each piece will grow into a potato plant.  However, the cut surface greatly increases the chance of the seed potato rotting, and the starch in the tuber feeds the plant as it's developing so the plants won't get away as well if you cut the tuber.

I wouldn't do it.  If the cost of the seed is a problem a better strategy is to find a variety with small seed - for example, you'll get about 30 Bio Gold in a 3kg bag, or a dozen Kestrel, so work out the price per tuber and not just price per kg.

Oh hang on - when you say seed are you talking about actually growing potato from seed rather then tubers?  It can be done - and it's exactly what potato breeders do all the time - but you don't get a useful crop, just enough tiddlers to grow on the next year.

[Unwashed]

Here's a pic from this blog where the guy's cut his seed potatoes.


Here's a bit about potato seed - what they call true potato seed to avoid confusion.

[laurieuk]

We used to have a keen vegetable exhibitor who one year had a display of 15 different  varieties ,all grow from eyes that he got from single potato sets of new varieties. He started them in pots and then planted out, I think he got single seed potatoes from a firm in Scotland.

[TonyD]

commercial growers use a seed potato cutting machine. they are usually cut into quarters. they are then tumbled  with a powder to seal the cut and prevent rot. then machine planted at approx 10in centres in row

[terrier]

I read on ? forum that if you cut the seed potato to rub the cut side in ash to protect it from disease. Does that sound like a good idea or a barmy one?