Just on the point on rubbing off long, white shoots from potatoes that have sprouted in the dark, I did a small-scale experiment last year. Basically, all my homesaved seed potatoes that I had overwintered in the garage had sprouted by the time that I unwrapped them from the newspaper that I had put them in and had long, white spindly shoot. On half of them I snapped off the shoots. On the other half, I just left them on. I put both halves onto windowsills to 'chit'' between late Jan and early Mar. The tubers that I had snapped the shoots off all generated new chits that were short and stumpy. The tubers that I had left the spindly white shoots on didn't grow new chits but all the spindly white shoots darkened up nicely. When it came to harvesting, I got approximately 10% higher yield from the tubers that I had NOT snapped the spindly white shoots off. Only a small experiment (3 tubs of each) but interesting result.
Last year, I tried an experiment and planted JUST the sprouts in 2 hills. No seed potatoes, just the long sprouts. Well, they both grew very well and I would say 1 hill had the same potato harvest as the normal seed potato hills and the other was a little less than normal. The sprouted seed potatoes grow faster and have earlier potatoes so I always plant with the sprouts on. At the end of the day, the year-end harvest is about the same as non-long-sprout hills but they come earlier.
thank you for the info, i have potatoes with spindly shoots and have kept them on for now. they started all white but have now turned green and small eyes forming on them.
It's a little weird how everyone tells you to throw away the long shoots. They are fragile and could result in some breakage and a negative impact on the harvest.... ... But they're vegetative growth that's already been done in advance of planting. That's an asset in it's own way. It's especially heartening to hear about getting results from only planting the shoot without the potato.
I grew up in Jersey, Channel Islands and my relatives were potato farmers. They always had sheds full of potatoes stood together in boxes, which were put there to sprout. So I was surprised when you said farmers don't do it. But Jersey farms are much smaller than UK farms, and the soil they plant in is always warmer because it's on a hillside facing south.
I can attest that large scale farmers do not chit. There is an attachment on the tractor that allows someone to slice a potato into 4ths, then they drop them.
'The sprouts will eventually make top growth of the plant.' Important to understand. I have just sown potatoes, paprica, cucumber - for the first time in my life and I am soon 31. It is very exciting. I did it first in buckets and pots. I plan on doing more in my yard once I have further dug it out.
@@maggiehampton3240 Yes, this channel has a video about it that I'm using this year! I'm about to plant mine in 5gal food grade buckets and when it's harvesting time all you have to do is dump out the bucket and find your potatoes. It's great because you can be sure you find all your potatoes and won't accidentally stab through them while digging like in the ground.
Last year was my first year planting potatoes. They were ones from my cupbord and they all had long spindley sprouts. Planted them all and got nice big potatoes from them. Granted there weren't a lot of them, but I also inadvertently planted them in an area of my yard that had a concrete slab buried about 1 foot under the soil. I only top planted with straw over the tops so I was happy with the amount I ended up getting (roughly 30 to 40), so you can actually plant the long spindley sprouts.
@SmithFamilyTelevision I bought a 1917 home where a concrete block maker used to live. There are several areas of my lot with concrete slabs at one foot below. Ugh! Fortunately, one part of the yard was used for gardening and is concrete free.
Here in Sweden we have to wait a little longer. I get my seed potatoes delivered tomorrow and will plant them out late april or first week of may, weather permitting. Hope to have some new potatoes around June 26 as it's tradition to eat new potatoes & pickled herring on Midsommer Eve. I will be growing Rocket. Orla. Nicola. Jazzy & Sarpo Mira. Hope you will have a great spring and summer! Thank you for sharing all your knowledge!
WOW😧😳😲 Really? 80% sawdust and 20% dirt? Never heard of that. But why not? Sawdust is nothing but a tree. Just sounds wierd. I'm learning a lot from this😃👍🏾
what is the washer cuts on the potatoes for? I didn't see an explanation about the washer digging the potato, maybe I missed it? newbie here, haven't yet planted my first Potatoe, but preparing to
@@judymiller8206 in another video he removed eyes/sprouts using the washer. He wanted larger potatoes (but fewer) so limited each potato to 2 sprouts. HTH. This guy is my potato guru!! I do need to watch his other videos!
I have to share with you that my interest in growing potatoes resulted from a pot that was left under my house that had a potato in it that I don’t remember planting I suppose… But in early spring, I saw some green growth coming out of the pot so I said the pot aside Low and behold a month later I had this beautiful growing plant, but I was waiting to see what it was… And what’s down in the soil but four small tiny red potatoes and a large yellow potato… Just under the surface! And that defies all processes in growing potatoes because somehow it survived under my house, all winter in the Chicagoland area!so now I’m going to officially grow potatoes following your guides. Thank you.
Great video, Tony. I’m in Germany and you’ve just given me inspiration for this year’s Single Seed Challenge - a potato! I would also like to add that another collaboration with Scott would be fantastic. It always brightens up my day when one of you upload :-)
Tony the tip filling bucket all way up first off was great as takes away my anxiety :) of going back a zillion times to keep filling it as it grows. Of course it makes sense!! Also ref the potassium requirement, I'm going to cover up at top layer an organically grown banana peel with small amount of red wiggler worms... maybe... will help potatoes. I really appreciate your attention to detail.
I buy 56lbs bags of potatoes from a farm shop then check for small shoots then put them by for planting planting in bags for winter growing in my poly tunnel mix with soil and compost, 10:55 fertiliser
Do you know, if you had said to me start doing some gardening 4 years ago I would have said, It happens too slow and I have not got time. How ignorant was I? And I am the first to admit it now. I retired and started doing a bit. Now? I'm absolutely loving it. Wish I had started years and years ago. I have even invested in a 10 x 12 greenhouse.....lol Watching your videos makes me more keen to try stuff I would not have dreamed of. Brilliant channel...... Totally inspiring to me. All are well set out and your explanation of things is just right. A lot of videos on youtube you stop after the first 30 seconds or fall asleep before that. Thank you for all the info you give. I dont usually post comments, but I feel here credit where credit is due. Well done!
Mate I love the way you explain this procedure in such an eloquent and understandable fashion, I've been a potato grower for most of my adult life, and I still learn something new every time I watch your tutorials Tony you know your stuff my friend yours in gardening Robert.
Great video. I have a bag of forgotten potatoes under the sink that have those long white tendrils, I was just going to compost them. Thank you for showing me how to re-sprout them, very much appreciated.
I selected my seed potatoes from the Piggly wiggly and my favorite Aldi's. Make sure u get the organic potatoes because the others are sprayed to not sprout even though some do im planting the first week in March in Wisconsin this year they already planted potatoes in Canada 😅 happy gardening 😅⚒️⚒️⚒️⚒️⚒️👍👍👍
That's interesting about removing the other eyes from a potato and leaving just the sprouts at the top. I'll try that with some of my potatoes this year, for sure! I'll use your advice to pick out the egg-sized tubers at my garden center, too, rather than going for the big ones or small ones. You pack in a lot of potato knowledge in your videos! Have a great growing season! :D
Having been brought up on a farm growing commercially back in the 50s then my grandfather always chitted his seed potatoes and they would be planted by local women by hand. I still do that today with my earlies which I only grow because a few early spuds grown by myself always seem to taste much better lifyed that morning. I grow mine in plastic drums good mix of farmyard muck and compost. Good info from this gent.
Thank you so much for this video, it was very informative. I am growing potatoes at home for the first time this year, I feel a lot more confident because of you.
Thanks for the great information. As usual- lots of valuable tips! I have been growing sprouted supermarket potatoes in greenhouse pots for about a decade. Generally- each gardening year, it is an alchemist situation where old sprouted (free) potatoes transform into tender small new potatoes. I do it in a completely lazy way- so my resulting crops are the same amount as planted but transform into my preferred tender small potatoes. My growing space is limited- so the pots go wherever they can fit in the "walking aisles" (layered cardboard and wood mulch) of my small raised bed gardens.
@@simplifygardeningI just came across your video. I know it’s old, but I’m new to this. I’m in the US where currently my temps are around 70-80 Fahrenheit. And I’ve come across places that are still selling potato seeds? But you suggest temps @50 degrees. So what do you suggest. Thanks.
Mine have been chitting away in the shed for a few weeks now and I'd usually be thinking of putting out first earlies next week, but with this weather I'm waiting until the end of the month.
You've perfectly answered what to do with the leftover potatoes I have from my sowings for Christmas. They've been in the pantry and have very long, white, spindly shoots. Thanks Tony! X
This was a fantastic video - I've grown allsorts over the years, but this is my first year growing potatoes, so very glad to get all the info from you Tony! Thanks!
A useful video as always, that’s clearly demonstrative and informative in time to help me understand what I’m doing with my seed potatoes. Thank you, Tony!
Thank you for this, I'm a bit late, but granddaughter wants to be an eco warrior and they have no garden, so I've given her a bit of mine and am helping her to get stared. I knew none of this, thank you very much👏🙏🏻💖💖
Hi Tony, Fantastic video. I live in France and got my charlotte spuds from my local nursery. Everything you mentioned in your video I experienced. It was like de ja vue. As you said, growers are less inclined to supply seed potatoes the size of eggs. I had a bag of 110 and I reckon they were half the size of a standard egg. I put mine in one of my cellars 14°C and covered them up and removed the light (first year of growing my own) and the outcome exactly as you described. They are now de-chitted, standing the right way up in eggboxes in my greenhouse - thanks a million. Power to your elbow my friend!!!!
I'm in North Carolina in the US and I've been watching you for my second year now. I checked out several podcasts and have settled on your's for my container potatoes. Last year was my first year attempting all container crops and did okay because I was still very new. I saved 3 dozen of the 4 varieties of potatoes and this year payed close attention to your suggestions for starting. Chose my egg sized potatoes and put them in egg cartens in the window until the chits were about 1 to 2 cm tall. I put them in 10 gallon (40ish liter ) bags on April 7th. I placed them on a pallet and used the tractor to move them in barn at night and into the sun during the day. At this point, they've grown enough through the straw to add more soil and straw and all I'm doing now is watering and giving them bone meal every 2 to 3 weeks. Will only add straw from here on and expect to be able to harvest mid to late July. Did a second sprouting and planting today 5/11 og the indeterminate type and removed all but one or two chits as you suggested (the April planting were all 1st and second earlies). Just wanted to thank you for all your wisdom and I'll let you know how it turned out.
I learned a lot from this video! I didn't know the ideal potato size to sprout is large egg sized or the ideal temp. Very helpful! I ordered my seed potatoes and they will be delivered about 6 weeks before my last frost date so I will ensure I start the sprouting process in a south facing frost free environment asap. Thanks for the tips!
I bought 30 ten gallon pots last fall to be able to use your method. Got wood chips spread and ready. Im excited to get growing. Hope your vertigo is better
I will plant potatoes the first time in my life this year and already ordered the seedlings. If everything goes well they will arrive beginning of March and I can start sprouting them. Wish me luck :-)
Glad it was helpful! And I would like to thank you for becoming my very first channel member. Thank you so much for the support. Tomorrows video will have you mentioned in just on a lower third as its already filmed but thanking you for the support.
In Alaska where I live we have to sprout potatoes because the dirt is way too cold. As of today, May 25th it frosted last night. Also we save seed potatoes every fall. Fingerlings love it here.
Mate! This is truly the most comprehensive TH-cam video I’ve come across on this topic. I got so many distinctions. Thanks so much!! You got a new Subscriber.
Glad it was helpful and welcome to the channel. I dropped a video last friday a couple days ago about growing 1st early or determinate potatoes I think you might enjoy too
For what its worth (and it could be just my experience) I planted some Sebago seed potatoes just after they started to sprout and left the others longer to chit. The ones that were planted grew much quicker (within a couple of weeks). The others are just starting to chit.
Hi Tony, your spot on i said the same in my video, farmers would chit if it genuinely gave them an extra kilo or two per plant it would then maybe be cost effective
I have grown them from healthy sprouts like you do slips, but it isn't easy. You can plant them with long sprouts if you let them turn green or color up in the light. There is also the issue of hardening them off. The sprouts are not used to the dry sun. I have also planted them in the previous fall. They seemed to come up about the same time when I planted the ones I sprouted. The only advantage to that is not having to store them, or sprout them. You do have to plant them deeper, mulch them.
Great video Tony. I'm chitting some purchased first earlies, as usual, this time of the year. Growing up, we only ever planted maincrop potatoes purchased from the supermarket, though. A lot of Americans do the same, and the typical planting style there is to cut the spuds in half and then throw them into the ground to grow. They're pretty resilient tubers, and I don't think rot very often from a cut if planted once the soil is warm.
Thanks Tanya. It maybe that Wales is so wet that I had rotting issues, however, I have to admit that I prefer the containers now. even though I do still try the ground from time to time for experiments
I'm in the US, and everyone around me who plants potatoes always waits at least a week after we cut them so they can build a skin. I know we get enough spring rain in the southeast that our potatoes would rot if I threw them straight in
Nowadays, if you plant potatoes bought at the store, they need to be organic. Otherwise, non-organic potatoes are sprayed with "sprout inhibitor". The issue I have is that I don't know if they are determinate or indeterminate varieties.
@@simplifygardening I was just trying to figure out your accent. I`m Canadian, so I`m only vaguely familiar with the diverse British accents. I was guessing Wales. So I was right. I've been growing potatoes for years, but will try container growing this year. I generally harvest my potatoes in November, and keep them in the Fridge. By March the remaining potatoes start sprouting. In Canada the ground is still frozen. The earliest you can plant them is late April, but May is more typical. Most of my potatoes are small, I`ll have to improved my technique to get bigger ones.
I'll be growing potatoes for the first time this year. Ordered seed potatoes several weeks ago, they are supposed to arrive in early March. Thanks to this video, now I know just where and how to store them! Going to start set aside egg cartons starting this week. ❤️
@Heloise O'Byrne i'm not sure what berry like structures you mean! This year will be my first time growing potatoes myself. But from this and other videos, I've learned that the little bumps that appear are the "chits" that will eventually grow to be the new plants, maybe that's what you mean?
You never sprout potatoes. Don't harvest everything that you grow. Leaves some potatoes at the same spot. They will root in the fall and come back next year at the right time. Even if some may be killed by frost, they will still be able to come back later. This way your potatoes will have a head start and grow really quickly once the temperature rises. No sprouting is needed. LOL
What a wonderfully thorough video, Tony!! You've left nothing out! Thank you for clearing up the indeterminate/determinate question! We don't call potatoes early, first early, main crop here.. just go by indeterminate/determinate. Now it all makes more sense! Had a great giggle at the "thumbs down n' frown" on the white shoot!😆 Have a great weekend, my friend!!💚
Thank you for sharing great instructions of how to grow potatoes, I needed that for my potatoes growth as I prepare to grow them this year. Once again thank you 🙏🏼
Tony what a wonderful video, you managed to cover all my questions about growing potatoes. I don’t know how I have missed your videos on gardening. But I am subscribed now, thank you so much
Thanks for the tip of reducing the amount of sprouts, makes perfect sense! I'll have to disagree on dark sprouted potatoes though. I really don't have a choice, because I can't set them safely until the 20th of May (coastal arctic Norway), but my cellar begins warming up and sprouting them in the last week of April. But the results are excellent, better than anyone in my village. My reasoning is that it's no different from setting unsprouted potatoes, they will blanch in the dark soil. On the contrary, I suspect bright sprouts waste energy chlorofylling their sprouts and then changing their mind about it. Farmers in my region set potatoes semi-automatically, with labourers riding on the machine and hand feeding the setting cups. So that is gentle enough for sturdy light-sprouted potatoes, but not for spindly dark-sprouts. And so I think that is why all the hobbyists also light-sprout here.
I have begun my journey on potato farming in raised beds with lots of lovely stumpy sprouts and heaps of compost mixed in to my soil. I've learned so much from you, very excited to see my little buddies grow in beautiful grean plants. Thanks a million for the expertise you give out. 2 Q's please: harvest when flowering plus a week/2wks? Should I always add hard wood ash to soil or only if PH is below 6? Cheers!
I have always planted little chunks of sprouted potatoes from store bought bags that went inedible, just as experiments, but you have shown me the light. Can't wait to try your well researched methods, cheers!
Thank you Tony, perfect timing. I am still a beginner ( and making mistakes ) to growing crops and I ordered my potatoes early and left them in the garage in the bags. After seeing your video I checked them and as you described they have the spindly sprouts. I have picked them off and am now preparing them for planting in March.
A couple of times I tossed my old long sprouting spuds out and got 12lbs. Nice little bonus. They seemed nicer than some Ive planted right. I didn’t fertilize or anything. We have very sandy soil. Now I have a handful of spuds with tight little Sprouts so I’ll pop them In and see what happens again. Never hurts.
Thanks for this! I am from Philippines and I learned a lot of things. I am planning to start my Potato and Cacao farm this year. Will be watching more of your videos!
I live in Washington State in the US in the PNW and have for 25+ years never sprouted my seed potato’s, I also plant them in November same time as my Garlic. I have record crops year after year.
I’m sorry. For my last comment. I watched and yes you shared some things but I will say. You should change the thumbnail to a thumbs up or something I almost didn’t watch it. But it’s the most informative sprouting potatoe video I’ve seen yet. I can tell you have a passion for it. Thanks
Even though I have grown and came from a family of hard core potato growers I listened in hopes of learning something. I didn't know to get rid of the extra eyes for larger potatoes. We raised 11 bushel this past fall they are sprouting as they always do without my help. One more thing if you grow a lot and you don't want to plant all of them you need to knock the eyes off so they don't get all mushy.
Thanks for this, it was VERY informative! I was particularly wanting to find out whether it would be best to snap off potato stems that grew whilst the potatoes were in the dark. I got my answer (for those who don't want to watch it all it's best if you snap them off. He talks about this at about 11:50 ish 😏) 👍
Thank you for this video. I started sprouting 2 weeks ago and i thought that it should be showing results by now. Thanks to you I now know that I might have to wait another month before I see results. Gives me more time to prepare the soil that I will use. I really enjoy your videos.
Want to learn mote about potatoes? This is the next video you should watch th-cam.com/video/hgJa2wrX6lA/w-d-xo.html
When you put them in the pots, whats the time frame for when you can expect some foliage to start showing?
I always buy my potatoes from shops and plant them that way
I know you select your own seed potatoes but was just wondering where you would buy them starting out
Just on the point on rubbing off long, white shoots from potatoes that have sprouted in the dark, I did a small-scale experiment last year. Basically, all my homesaved seed potatoes that I had overwintered in the garage had sprouted by the time that I unwrapped them from the newspaper that I had put them in and had long, white spindly shoot. On half of them I snapped off the shoots. On the other half, I just left them on. I put both halves onto windowsills to 'chit'' between late Jan and early Mar. The tubers that I had snapped the shoots off all generated new chits that were short and stumpy. The tubers that I had left the spindly white shoots on didn't grow new chits but all the spindly white shoots darkened up nicely. When it came to harvesting, I got approximately 10% higher yield from the tubers that I had NOT snapped the spindly white shoots off. Only a small experiment (3 tubs of each) but interesting result.
Last year, I tried an experiment and planted JUST the sprouts in 2 hills. No seed potatoes, just the long sprouts. Well, they both grew very well and I would say 1 hill had the same potato harvest as the normal seed potato hills and the other was a little less than normal. The sprouted seed potatoes grow faster and have earlier potatoes so I always plant with the sprouts on. At the end of the day, the year-end harvest is about the same as non-long-sprout hills but they come earlier.
@@paulwilson6511 Thanks! That's what I needed to know (I have some LONG sprouts 😂)!
Just planted a bag of sprouting potatoes with long shoots in the ground yesterday evening,will wait and see what results I get .
thank you for the info, i have potatoes with spindly shoots and have kept them on for now. they started all white but have now turned green and small eyes forming on them.
It's a little weird how everyone tells you to throw away the long shoots.
They are fragile and could result in some breakage and a negative impact on the harvest....
... But they're vegetative growth that's already been done in advance of planting. That's an asset in it's own way.
It's especially heartening to hear about getting results from only planting the shoot without the potato.
Probably some of the best info I have seen about potatoes. Thank you for using the word "sprouting."
I grew up in Jersey, Channel Islands and my relatives were potato farmers. They always had sheds full of potatoes stood together in boxes, which were put there to sprout. So I was surprised when you said farmers don't do it. But Jersey farms are much smaller than UK farms, and the soil they plant in is always warmer because it's on a hillside facing south.
He took 13 minutes to say what could be said in 3 minutes, so I am not surprised he is wrong.
I can attest that large scale farmers do not chit. There is an attachment on the tractor that allows someone to slice a potato into 4ths, then they drop them.
@@ronniemead805 I've been involved in growing (planting and harvesting) millions of tons of potatoes none were chitted
These videos have totally transformed how I view seasonal gardening! Potatoes have officially made their way in to my plant roster :].
That is brilliant and I am glad your finding value in them :)
'The sprouts will eventually make top growth of the plant.'
Important to understand.
I have just sown potatoes, paprica, cucumber - for the first time in my life and I am soon 31.
It is very exciting.
I did it first in buckets and pots.
I plan on doing more in my yard once I have further dug it out.
O h thank you very much for this advice
How did the harvest go?
Have you tried 'no dig' gardening? It's a game changer for me as an elderly woman!
@shenderson8092 how do you do your potatoes no dig? Containers?
@@maggiehampton3240 Yes, this channel has a video about it that I'm using this year! I'm about to plant mine in 5gal food grade buckets and when it's harvesting time all you have to do is dump out the bucket and find your potatoes. It's great because you can be sure you find all your potatoes and won't accidentally stab through them while digging like in the ground.
Last year was my first year planting potatoes. They were ones from my cupbord and they all had long spindley sprouts. Planted them all and got nice big potatoes from them. Granted there weren't a lot of them, but I also inadvertently planted them in an area of my yard that had a concrete slab buried about 1 foot under the soil. I only top planted with straw over the tops so I was happy with the amount I ended up getting (roughly 30 to 40), so you can actually plant the long spindley sprouts.
thing is you still grew them otherwise they would have been in the bin
that sounds like it could possibly be a septic tank. if it is you are going to want to stay off that
@@seekeroftruth9900 Hehe, it's actually the old patio they had down, we just didn't realize it went that far out.
@SmithFamilyTelevision I bought a 1917 home where a concrete block maker used to live. There are several areas of my lot with concrete slabs at one foot below. Ugh! Fortunately, one part of the yard was used for gardening and is concrete free.
The more I watch your potato videos the more I get excited to try and match your amazing results. You are the master I aspire to become. Thanks, Tony.
Thank you Bud getting folks to try is my goal
Here in Sweden we have to wait a little longer. I get my seed potatoes delivered tomorrow and will plant them out late april or first week of may, weather permitting.
Hope to have some new potatoes around June 26 as it's tradition to eat new potatoes & pickled herring on Midsommer Eve. I will be growing Rocket. Orla. Nicola. Jazzy & Sarpo Mira.
Hope you will have a great spring and summer! Thank you for sharing all your knowledge!
I started mine from potatoe eyes in 5 gal pails in my woodworking shop in march. 20% dirt and 80 % sawdust. Their growing like weeds.🙂
WOW😧😳😲 Really? 80% sawdust and 20% dirt? Never heard of that. But why not? Sawdust is nothing but a tree. Just sounds wierd. I'm learning a lot from this😃👍🏾
@@Ladyscharm look up Mitleider Gardening.
@@Ladyscharm Keep in mind that not all trees are created equal. But it can work.
what is the washer cuts on the potatoes for? I didn't see an explanation about the washer digging the potato, maybe I missed it? newbie here, haven't yet planted my first Potatoe, but preparing to
@@judymiller8206 in another video he removed eyes/sprouts using the washer. He wanted larger potatoes (but fewer) so limited each potato to 2 sprouts. HTH. This guy is my potato guru!! I do need to watch his other videos!
I have to share with you that my interest in growing potatoes resulted from a pot that was left under my house that had a potato in it that I don’t remember planting I suppose… But in early spring, I saw some green growth coming out of the pot so I said the pot aside Low and behold a month later I had this beautiful growing plant, but I was waiting to see what it was… And what’s down in the soil but four small tiny red potatoes and a large yellow potato… Just under the surface! And that defies all processes in growing potatoes because somehow it survived under my house, all winter in the Chicagoland area!so now I’m going to officially grow potatoes following your guides. Thank you.
Life finds a way. Look at weeds
Amazing amount of great information packed into this video. You are the potato master, Tony!
Hey Scott. Thanks mate. How are you keeping? Need to get our heads together and get you back on the channel
@@simplifygardening that would be great. I watch Gardener Scott too and also live in Colorado. Hey Scott! Great video Tony!
Great video, Tony. I’m in Germany and you’ve just given me inspiration for this year’s Single Seed Challenge - a potato! I would also like to add that another collaboration with Scott would be fantastic. It always brightens up my day when one of you upload :-)
Tony the tip filling bucket all way up first off was great as takes away my anxiety :) of going back a zillion times to keep filling it as it grows. Of course it makes sense!! Also ref the potassium requirement, I'm going to cover up at top layer an organically grown banana peel with small amount of red wiggler worms... maybe... will help potatoes. I really appreciate your attention to detail.
Yes
I buy 56lbs bags of potatoes from a farm shop then check for small shoots then put them by for planting planting in bags for winter growing in my poly tunnel mix with soil and compost, 10:55 fertiliser
Do you know, if you had said to me start doing some gardening 4 years ago I would have said, It happens too slow and I have not got time. How ignorant was I? And I am the first to admit it now. I retired and started doing a bit. Now? I'm absolutely loving it. Wish I had started years and years ago. I have even invested in a 10 x 12 greenhouse.....lol
Watching your videos makes me more keen to try stuff I would not have dreamed of. Brilliant channel...... Totally inspiring to me. All are well set out and your explanation of things is just right. A lot of videos on youtube you stop after the first 30 seconds or fall asleep before that. Thank you for all the info you give. I dont usually post comments, but I feel here credit where credit is due. Well done!
Thanks Tony .Now I know what to do to get bigger potatoes 🥔.
Glad to help Claudia
Mate I love the way you explain this procedure in such an eloquent and understandable fashion, I've been a potato grower for most of my adult life, and I still learn something new every time I watch your tutorials Tony you know your stuff my friend yours in gardening Robert.
My only regret is how many failed crops I endured before finding this video. You have re-enthused me. Thanks!
Great video. I have a bag of forgotten potatoes under the sink that have those long white tendrils, I was just going to compost them. Thank you for showing me how to re-sprout them, very much appreciated.
good to see you are going to try resprouting them
I selected my seed potatoes from the Piggly wiggly and my favorite Aldi's. Make sure u get the organic potatoes because the others are sprayed to not sprout even though some do im planting the first week in March in Wisconsin this year they already planted potatoes in Canada 😅 happy gardening 😅⚒️⚒️⚒️⚒️⚒️👍👍👍
Thats great lets hope we all have a great day
That's interesting about removing the other eyes from a potato and leaving just the sprouts at the top. I'll try that with some of my potatoes this year, for sure! I'll use your advice to pick out the egg-sized tubers at my garden center, too, rather than going for the big ones or small ones. You pack in a lot of potato knowledge in your videos! Have a great growing season! :D
I am glad that you got something from it :)
8
Having been brought up on a farm growing commercially back in the 50s then my grandfather always chitted his seed potatoes and they would be planted by local women by hand. I still do that today with my earlies which I only grow because a few early spuds grown by myself always seem to taste much better lifyed that morning. I grow mine in plastic drums good mix of farmyard muck and compost. Good info from this gent.
Thank you so much for this video, it was very informative. I am growing potatoes at home for the first time this year, I feel a lot more confident because of you.
Tony, that was one of the most timely and informative videos I have seen. Answered all my questions, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Really enjoyed the teaching. Nice tip about potassium in wood ash. Phosphorus is also in ash. Thanks. I'm just starting with potatoes👌👋
I'm so confused,2nd early? Determinate potatoes? I don't understand the differences or what that means?
Thanks for the great information. As usual- lots of valuable tips!
I have been growing sprouted supermarket potatoes in greenhouse pots for about a decade. Generally- each gardening year, it is an alchemist situation where old sprouted (free) potatoes transform into tender small new potatoes. I do it in a completely lazy way- so my resulting crops are the same amount as planted but transform into my preferred tender small potatoes. My growing space is limited- so the pots go wherever they can fit in the "walking aisles" (layered cardboard and wood mulch) of my small raised bed gardens.
A great way to refresh your spuds in that case Jay
@@simplifygardeningI just came across your video. I know it’s old, but I’m new to this. I’m in the US where currently my temps are around 70-80 Fahrenheit. And I’ve come across places that are still selling potato seeds? But you suggest temps @50 degrees. So what do you suggest. Thanks.
Mine have been chitting away in the shed for a few weeks now and I'd usually be thinking of putting out first earlies next week, but with this weather I'm waiting until the end of the month.
Yeah hold off gor a bit Frank if you can
Mine will be going in on the 12th of March.
You've perfectly answered what to do with the leftover potatoes I have from my sowings for Christmas. They've been in the pantry and have very long, white, spindly shoots.
Thanks Tony! X
Glad i covered what you need Rachel
@@simplifygardening I'm still Karen, although you keep calling me Rachel I might have to change my name 🤣
In my defence i did tell you im shit with names Rachel 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 i mean karen
@@simplifygardening 🤣🤣🤣🤣
This was a fantastic video - I've grown allsorts over the years, but this is my first year growing potatoes, so very glad to get all the info from you Tony! Thanks!
I have videos like this for each stage of growing potatoes i should put them in a play list lol
@@simplifygardening I'd definitely binge-watch a playlist on that!
A useful video as always, that’s clearly demonstrative and informative in time to help me understand what I’m doing with my seed potatoes. Thank you, Tony!
Glad it was helpful hopefully you have a path forward
Last year my spuds were duds! 🥔
Looking forward to this year! We will try again using all your tips and techniques Tony!
Thank you for this, I'm a bit late, but granddaughter wants to be an eco warrior and they have no garden, so I've given her a bit of mine and am helping her to get stared. I knew none of this, thank you very much👏🙏🏻💖💖
Another informative, clear video. I learn something every time i watch one of your videos. Thank you.
Thank you Debra. Glad your enjoying them
Hi Tony, Fantastic video. I live in France and got my charlotte spuds from my local nursery. Everything you mentioned in your video I experienced. It was like de ja vue. As you said, growers are less inclined to supply seed potatoes the size of eggs. I had a bag of 110 and I reckon they were half the size of a standard egg. I put mine in one of my cellars 14°C and covered them up and removed the light (first year of growing my own) and the outcome exactly as you described. They are now de-chitted, standing the right way up in eggboxes in my greenhouse - thanks a million. Power to your elbow my friend!!!!
I'm in North Carolina in the US and I've been watching you for my second year now. I checked out several podcasts and have settled on your's for my container potatoes. Last year was my first year attempting all container crops and did okay because I was still very new. I saved 3 dozen of the 4 varieties of potatoes and this year payed close attention to your suggestions for starting. Chose my egg sized potatoes and put them in egg cartens in the window until the chits were about 1 to 2 cm tall. I put them in 10 gallon (40ish liter ) bags on April 7th. I placed them on a pallet and used the tractor to move them in barn at night and into the sun during the day. At this point, they've grown enough through the straw to add more soil and straw and all I'm doing now is watering and giving them bone meal every 2 to 3 weeks. Will only add straw from here on and expect to be able to harvest mid to late July.
Did a second sprouting and planting today 5/11 og the indeterminate type and removed all but one or two chits as you suggested (the April planting were all 1st and second earlies). Just wanted to thank you for all your wisdom and I'll let you know how it turned out.
Wow Joe seems you have it all nailed up. only thing now is to water and wait my friend. Great job
I learned a lot from this video! I didn't know the ideal potato size to sprout is large egg sized or the ideal temp. Very helpful! I ordered my seed potatoes and they will be delivered about 6 weeks before my last frost date so I will ensure I start the sprouting process in a south facing frost free environment asap. Thanks for the tips!
Glad you got value from the video Megan
I bought 30 ten gallon pots last fall to be able to use your method. Got wood chips spread and ready. Im excited to get growing. Hope your vertigo is better
I will plant potatoes the first time in my life this year and already ordered the seedlings. If everything goes well they will arrive beginning of March and I can start sprouting them. Wish me luck :-)
Good luck im sure you will have a great crop
I'm in the exact same situation! Wishing you bounty!
Where do I order seedlings?
@@mi2maui I got them from a local store where I can get most of my seeds.
One of the best videos on sprouting potatoes! Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Wow! I learned a LOT about growing potatoes from this video. Thank you so much for this information packed video!
Glad it was helpful! And I would like to thank you for becoming my very first channel member. Thank you so much for the support. Tomorrows video will have you mentioned in just on a lower third as its already filmed but thanking you for the support.
In Alaska where I live we have to sprout potatoes because the dirt is way too cold. As of today, May 25th it frosted last night. Also we save seed potatoes every fall. Fingerlings love it here.
Lovely to see you back and on form 😊 Going to be upping my potato game this year... The year of the potato...
I've been making a big effort towards being a couch potato 🤣😉
Yes its going to be a great year
@@rosesallotmentadventures9365 we have all been doing that Rachel 😃
Mate! This is truly the most comprehensive TH-cam video I’ve come across on this topic. I got so many distinctions. Thanks so much!! You got a new Subscriber.
Glad it was helpful and welcome to the channel. I dropped a video last friday a couple days ago about growing 1st early or determinate potatoes I think you might enjoy too
For what its worth (and it could be just my experience) I planted some Sebago seed potatoes just after they started to sprout and left the others longer to chit. The ones that were planted grew much quicker (within a couple of weeks). The others are just starting to chit.
Best video I’ve watched for novices like me. Thanks
Hi Tony, your spot on i said the same in my video, farmers would chit if it genuinely gave them an extra kilo or two per plant it would then maybe be cost effective
Yeah exactly
Thank You! I just bought my potato seedlings yesterday.
Perfect timing then. Time to sprout them
I have grown them from healthy sprouts like you do slips, but it isn't easy. You can plant them with long sprouts if you let them turn green or color up in the light. There is also the issue of hardening them off. The sprouts are not used to the dry sun. I have also planted them in the previous fall. They seemed to come up about the same time when I planted the ones I sprouted. The only advantage to that is not having to store them, or sprout them. You do have to plant them deeper, mulch them.
Excellent advice!
Great video Tony. I'm chitting some purchased first earlies, as usual, this time of the year. Growing up, we only ever planted maincrop potatoes purchased from the supermarket, though. A lot of Americans do the same, and the typical planting style there is to cut the spuds in half and then throw them into the ground to grow. They're pretty resilient tubers, and I don't think rot very often from a cut if planted once the soil is warm.
Thanks Tanya. It maybe that Wales is so wet that I had rotting issues, however, I have to admit that I prefer the containers now. even though I do still try the ground from time to time for experiments
I did this (also uk) and left the cut tubers to dry a few days bake planting. No problem.
I'm in the US, and everyone around me who plants potatoes always waits at least a week after we cut them so they can build a skin. I know we get enough spring rain in the southeast that our potatoes would rot if I threw them straight in
Nowadays, if you plant potatoes bought at the store, they need to be organic. Otherwise, non-organic potatoes are sprayed with "sprout inhibitor". The issue I have is that I don't know if they are determinate or indeterminate varieties.
@@simplifygardening I was just trying to figure out your accent. I`m Canadian, so I`m only vaguely familiar with the diverse British accents. I was guessing Wales. So I was right. I've been growing potatoes for years, but will try container growing this year. I generally harvest my potatoes in November, and keep them in the Fridge. By March the remaining potatoes start sprouting. In Canada the ground is still frozen. The earliest you can plant them is late April, but May is more typical. Most of my potatoes are small, I`ll have to improved my technique to get bigger ones.
Everything you could ever want to know about sprouting potatoes. Informative and straightforward. Excellent video
Thanks glad you enjoyed it
I'll be growing potatoes for the first time this year. Ordered seed potatoes several weeks ago, they are supposed to arrive in early March. Thanks to this video, now I know just where and how to store them! Going to start set aside egg cartons starting this week. ❤️
Perfect 😀
@Heloise O'Byrne The "seed potatoes" are just actual potatoes that are set aside for planting.
@Heloise O'Byrne i'm not sure what berry like structures you mean! This year will be my first time growing potatoes myself.
But from this and other videos, I've learned that the little bumps that appear are the "chits" that will eventually grow to be the new plants, maybe that's what you mean?
This is the best video I have seen on growing potatoes!!
Thanks, I have loads of videos on growing potatoes especially the one pinned in the top of the comments, you should definitely watch that
So glad spring is here so I can listen and learn from Tony. Great knowledge clearly given. Thank you.
Holy chit, this was an informative video!
I come to Tony for all my potato needs. It's why I started watching, but now I'm hooked ;)
You never sprout potatoes. Don't harvest everything that you grow. Leaves some potatoes at the same spot. They will root in the fall and come back next year at the right time. Even if some may be killed by frost, they will still be able to come back later. This way your potatoes will have a head start and grow really quickly once the temperature rises. No sprouting is needed. LOL
7.6K likes and 0 Dislikes....Your videos speak for themselves. So easy to understand and practical!
Thank you so much I am glad you are enjoying them
Thank you for answering any and all the questions I had and may have later in 1 video! Fantastic!!
Happy to help Janice
You my friend are #1 in all the clips on potatoes I have seen. 👍
Comprehensive information. Best I’ve heard. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful Ella. thanks
What a wonderfully thorough video, Tony!! You've left nothing out! Thank you for clearing up the indeterminate/determinate question! We don't call potatoes early, first early, main crop here.. just go by indeterminate/determinate. Now it all makes more sense! Had a great giggle at the "thumbs down n' frown" on the white shoot!😆 Have a great weekend, my friend!!💚
Glad it was helpful! You have to have a little joke now and then :)
It was, and yes, levity is very important! We should have fun in whatever we do, or there is no point! Cheers! 💚@@simplifygardening
Tony, do you have a video on storing potatoes? These are wonderful videos!! Thank you so much!!
You are the best farmer, and best person for me because you share what you know. Thanks from İstanbul Türkiye.
Thanks im glad that u find it useful
Of course it's worth it.. any food you can grow yourself is worth it especially in this day and age..
I had no idea I was doing it wrong! This content is great.
Excellent! Packed with info, thank you. Sprouting potato master class!
Thanks, glad you found value in the video
Wow. Who knew potato sprouting was a thing, let alone so interesting. Love his work..
Glad you enjoyed the video. check out todays video on potatoes I think you will enjoy it. th-cam.com/video/L1rf1FXtI9s/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for sharing great instructions of how to grow potatoes, I needed that for my potatoes growth as I prepare to grow them this year. Once again thank you 🙏🏼
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Tony, I’m chitting my early potatoes now but was unsure if I was too soon, now I know I’m ok
Your perfect dont worry
Tony what a wonderful video, you managed to cover all my questions about growing potatoes. I don’t know how I have missed your videos on gardening. But I am subscribed now, thank you so much
Welcome back!
Thank you so much. This has beeen such and awesome and helpful video. Can's thank you enough! I am just starting the chitting of my potatoes.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Tony I enjoy your videos 😊
Glad to see your doing well Tony..was worried about you. Praying my friend.
easy and helpful
what great information. I am so excited to see what I will get from my potatoes this year, now that I have some solid information!
Glad you found value in the video
Thanks for the tip of reducing the amount of sprouts, makes perfect sense!
I'll have to disagree on dark sprouted potatoes though. I really don't have a choice, because I can't set them safely until the 20th of May (coastal arctic Norway), but my cellar begins warming up and sprouting them in the last week of April. But the results are excellent, better than anyone in my village. My reasoning is that it's no different from setting unsprouted potatoes, they will blanch in the dark soil. On the contrary, I suspect bright sprouts waste energy chlorofylling their sprouts and then changing their mind about it.
Farmers in my region set potatoes semi-automatically, with labourers riding on the machine and hand feeding the setting cups. So that is gentle enough for sturdy light-sprouted potatoes, but not for spindly dark-sprouts. And so I think that is why all the hobbyists also light-sprout here.
I have begun my journey on potato farming in raised beds with lots of lovely stumpy sprouts and heaps of compost mixed in to my soil. I've learned so much from you, very excited to see my little buddies grow in beautiful grean plants. Thanks a million for the expertise you give out. 2 Q's please: harvest when flowering plus a week/2wks? Should I always add hard wood ash to soil or only if PH is below 6? Cheers!
I have always planted little chunks of sprouted potatoes from store bought bags that went inedible, just as experiments, but you have shown me the light. Can't wait to try your well researched methods, cheers!
That's a great idea!
You’re a hero Tony. Wish you the best 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you Tony, perfect timing. I am still a beginner ( and making mistakes ) to growing crops and I ordered my potatoes early and left them in the garage in the bags. After seeing your video I checked them and as you described they have the spindly sprouts. I have picked them off and am now preparing them for planting in March.
There are only learning opportunities :D
You grow the most beautiful potatoes! Thanks for sharing the video
Thanks for visiting
Amazing, so many hints that nobodys talking about.
Thanks so much.
U are the expert.
💪🙏👌
My pleasure!
A couple of times I tossed my old long sprouting spuds out and got 12lbs. Nice little bonus. They seemed nicer than some Ive planted right. I didn’t fertilize or anything. We have very sandy soil. Now I have a handful of spuds with tight little Sprouts so I’ll pop them In and see what happens again. Never hurts.
Thanks for this! I am from Philippines and I learned a lot of things. I am planning to start my Potato and Cacao farm this year. Will be watching more of your videos!
Sounds great!
Absolutely brilliant. Could not be clearer.
Really good links to questions below
Thank you for the time you have put into making this video.
God bless
Thank you, Tony, now I know where I went wrong last year with my spuds.
Glad it was useful to you Mandy
I live in Washington State in the US in the PNW and have for 25+ years never sprouted my seed potato’s, I also plant them in November same time as my Garlic. I have record crops year after year.
he knows his stuff!!
When it comes to planting out do you plant first earlies, 2nd’s, Main and late all at the same time? Thanks for the great channel Tony 👍🏼
I’m sorry. For my last comment. I watched and yes you shared some things but I will say. You should change the thumbnail to a thumbs up or something I almost didn’t watch it. But it’s the most informative sprouting potatoe video I’ve seen yet. I can tell you have a passion for it. Thanks
my first time growing potatoes. Found these videos really helpful
Glad you like them!
Cheers Tony. I've got Swifts & Charlittes started. 👌
Rock on! You on your way :)
Well done. I have not seen a better presentasion for sowing potatoes so far. (I am greek)
Thank you very much, welcome to the channel
Even though I have grown and came from a family of hard core potato growers I listened in hopes of learning something. I didn't know to get rid of the extra eyes for larger potatoes. We raised 11 bushel this past fall they are sprouting as they always do without my help. One more thing if you grow a lot and you don't want to plant all of them you need to knock the eyes off so they don't get all mushy.
Great tips thanks
Thank you for the great info, never knew about this before. Going to try it soon . ❤️
Glad you found value in the vidro Jennifer
Thanks for this, it was VERY informative! I was particularly wanting to find out whether it would be best to snap off potato stems that grew whilst the potatoes were in the dark. I got my answer (for those who don't want to watch it all it's best if you snap them off. He talks about this at about 11:50 ish 😏) 👍
You're great ! Thanks. 👍
Thank you for this video. I started sprouting 2 weeks ago and i thought that it should be showing results by now. Thanks to you I now know that I might have to wait another month before I see results. Gives me more time to prepare the soil that I will use. I really enjoy your videos.
😀