If you want to grow a great potato crop, you need to start with well-sprouted seed potatoes. Learning how to get potatoes to sprout is the essential first step for any gardener looking to harvest a bounty later in the season.
This process is called chitting. It simply means encouraging your seed potatoes to produce strong, sturdy shoots before you plant them in the ground. It gives your plants a head start, which can lead to earlier and often larger harvests. It’s a simple technique that makes a big difference.
How to Get Potatoes to Sprout
This guide will walk you through the entire process, from choosing the right potatoes to planting them out. You’ll learn the why and the how, along with solutions to common problems. Let’s get your potatoes ready for a fantastic growing season.
Why You Should Sprout Your Potatoes First
You might wonder if this extra step is really necessary. While potatoes will grow without chitting, there are clear benefits to doing it.
It extends your growing season, especially in cooler climates. By the time the soil is warm enough to plant, your potatoes already have a several-week advantage. This can mean harvesting new potatoes weeks earlier than usual.
It also promotes stronger, more vigourous plants. You can select the best sprouts and encourage a robust root system from the start. It helps you identify any dud potatoes that fail to sprout before you waste space in your garden.
Choosing the Right Potatoes for Sprouting
Not all potatoes are created equal for this purpose. You need to begin with “seed potatoes.” These are not the ones from your grocery store.
Certified seed potatoes are guaranteed to be disease-free and are your best bet for a healthy crop. Grocery store potatoes are often treated with a sprout inhibitor to extend their shelf life, which makes them very difficult to chit. They can also carry diseases that will stay in your soil for years.
Choose seed potatoes that are firm and healthy-looking. Avoid any that are soft, shriveled, or have obvious damage. The size matters too; egg-sized potatoes are ideal. You can cut larger ones, which we’ll cover in a moment.
Early, Maincrop, and Late Varieties
Your choice of variety affects your chitting and planting schedule.
- First Earlies: These mature the fastest. Start chitting these in late winter (around February or March) for planting in early spring.
- Second Earlies: A mid-season crop. Chit them a couple weeks after your first earlies.
- Maincrop: These take the longest to mature and are for late summer and fall harvest. Start chitting them in early to mid-spring.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
Gathering your supplies is easy. You likely have everything you need already.
- Seed Potatoes: As discussed above.
- A Shallow Container: Egg cartons, seed trays, or even a flat cardboard box are perfect. The goal is to hold the potatoes upright without them rolling around.
- A Cool, Bright Location: A windowsill in a spare room, a porch, or a bright garage. It needs light but not direct, hot sun. The ideal temperature is between 50-60°F (10-15°C).
The Step-by-Step Sprouting Process
Follow these numbered steps for the best results. It’s a very straightforward process.
Step 1: Arrange Your Potatoes
Place your seed potatoes in your chosen container. Position them with the “rose end” facing upward. This is the end with the most eyes or dimples. The heel end is usually where any remnant of the old stalk is attached.
If you’re unsure which end is which, don’t worry. Just lay the potato on its side. The sprouts will find their way toward the light and grow correctly.
Step 2: Find the Perfect Spot
Put the container in your cool, bright spot. A north or east-facing windowsill is often ideal. Avoid warm, dark cupboards, as this will cause long, pale, and weak sprouts that break easily.
The light is crucial. It tells the sprouts where to grow and keeps them short, stocky, and green. These strong sprouts are called “chits.”
Step 3: Wait and Monitor
Now, you let nature do its work. Check on your potatoes every few days. You should see small, knobby eyes beginning to swell within a couple of weeks.
Soon, these will develop into the distinct sprouts you’re looking for. The entire chitting process usually takes 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the temperature and variety.
Step 4: Preparing Large Potatoes
If your seed potatoes are larger than a hen’s egg, you can cut them to get more plants. This must be done correctly to avoid rot.
- Use a clean, sharp knife.
- Cut the potato into chunks, ensuring each piece has at least two or three strong-looking eyes.
- Make the cuts a day or two before you plan to start chitting. This allows the cut surfaces to dry and form a protective callus, which greatly reduces the risk of rot once planted.
- Then, place these pieces in your container just like whole potatoes.
What Do Perfect Sprouts Look Like?
Aim for dark green or purple, sturdy sprouts that are about ½ to 1 inch long. They should look robust, not spindly.
If your sprouts are long, white, and thin, they are not getting enough light. Move them to a brighter location immediately. If they are wilting or the potato is shriveling, the spot might be too warm or dry.
Sometimes, a potato will produce lots of thin sprouts. It’s best to rub off the weaker ones, leaving just three or four of the strongest. This directs the plant’s energy for better growth.
Common Problems and Simple Solutions
Even with the best care, you might encounter a hiccup or two. Here’s how to handle common issues.
No Sprouts Appearing
If weeks go by and nothing happens, the temperature might be too cold. Move them to a slightly warmer (but still bright) spot. Also, double-check that you didn’t accidentally buy treated potatoes.
Sprouts Are Too Long and Spindly
This is a classic sign of insufficient light. Relocate your setup to a much brighter area. You can still plant these, but handle them with extreme care as they are very fragile.
The Potato is Shriveling or Rotting
Shriveling means the environment is too dry or warm. Rotting indicates too much moisture or a damaged potato to begin with. Remove any rotting potatoes immediately to prevent it from spreading. Ensure good air circulation around your chitting tray.
When to Remove Sprouts
Generally, you don’t remove sprouts until just before planting. If a potato has a tangled mass of many thin sprouts, you can carefully rub off the smallest, leaving the best three or four.
Moving from Sprouting to Planting
Your potatoes have perfect sprouts. Now what? Timing the transition to soil is key.
You should plant your chitted potatoes about 2-3 weeks before your last expected spring frost date. The soil should be workable and starting to warm up, not waterlogged or frozen.
How to Plant Your Sprouted Potatoes
- Harden Off: If your potatoes have been indoors, acclimate them to outdoor conditions for a week. Bring them outside for a few hours each day, increasing the time gradually.
- Prepare the Soil: Potatoes need loose, well-draining soil. Dig a trench about 4-6 inches deep. Adding some compost to the bottom of the trench is a great idea.
- Plant Carefully: Place each potato in the trench with the sprouts pointing upward. Space them about 12 inches apart for earlies and 15 inches for maincrop, with rows 2-3 feet apart.
- Cover Gently: Cover the potatoes with about 4 inches of soil. As the plants grow, you’ll “hill up” soil around the stems to protect the developing tubers from sunlight.
Special Tips for Different Growing Methods
Not everyone plants in traditional garden rows. The chitting process is the same, but planting differs slightly.
Container Growing
This is a fantastic option for patios or small spaces. Use a large pot, grow bag, or even a bucket with drainage holes.
Plant one or two chitted seed potatoes per large container. The process of adding soil as the plant grows (hilling) is especially important here to maximize yield in a limited space.
Straw or Mulch Method
Instead of digging into soil, you can place your chitted potatoes on top of prepared soil and cover them with a thick layer of straw or mulch.
As the plants grow, you add more straw. Harvest is a breeze—just pull back the straw to find clean potatoes. This method requires excellent moisture control, as straw can dry out quickly.
FAQ: Your Sprouting Questions Answered
Can I sprout potatoes from the store?
It is not recommended. Store-bought potatoes are often treated with sprout inhibitors and may carry disease. For a reliable, healthy crop, always use certified seed potatoes.
How long does it take for potatoes to sprout?
The chitting process typically takes between 4 and 6 weeks in a cool, bright location. Warmer conditions may speed it up slightly but can lead to weaker sprouts.
Do the sprouts need to be green before planting?
Yes, green, sturdy sprouts are the goal. The green color indicates they are strong and have been properly exposed to light. White, pale sprouts are too weak and will struggle when planted.
What if my potatoes sprouted in the bag before I bought them?
If they are certified seed potatoes with short, green sprouts, you can plant them as is. If the sprouts are long and white, you can still use them, but handle them very carefully and consider exposing them to light for a few days to green up if possible.
Can I eat potatoes that have sprouted?
Potatoes that have sprouted at home are generally safe to eat if you cut away the sprouts and any green parts of the skin thoroughly. However, heavily sprouted potatoes are often shriveled and have a bitter taste, so its usually better to just plant them.
What temperature is best for sprouting potatoes?
A cool temperature between 50°F and 60°F (10°C to 15°C) is ideal. This promotes slow, strong growth. Avoid warm rooms, which cause rapid, weak sprout development.
Final Checklist Before You Plant
- Sprouts are green and ½-inch to 1-inch long.
- Frost danger has passed, or you are ready to protect plants if a late frost is forcasted.
- Soil is workable, not soggy.
- You have your planting location or containers ready.
Starting your potatoes with a good sprouting session sets the stage for the entire growing season. It’s a simple, satisfying task that gives you a tangible head start. By providing the right conditions—coolness, light, and a little patience—you’ll transform a humble seed potato into a powerhouse of growth ready for the soil. Now you know exactly how to get potatoes to sprout successfully, you can look forward to a productive and rewarding harvest in the months to come.