As soon as they are out of storage and in warmer weather, the shoots will bud and begin to grow. This sprouting is natural, however a number of steps can be taken to slow down the process:
Usually, tubers will be delivered firm and dormant, but sometimes you may see some weak, white roots of different lengths sprouting early. The tuber themselves will be fine.
Early varieties: when there isn’t any light, they make a single, long white sprout. The tips of these sprouts can be infected by airborne bacteria, which turn them black or brown. when knocked off the potato starts to sprout again, producing a healthy sprout, more slowly.
Maincrop Varieties – These when delivered can often be beginning to sprout, especially later deliveries in March. Basically you will see white spots on the eyes of the tuber – these are the eyes opening.
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Growing potatoes from seed potatoes is a fun and productive way to add homegrown spuds to your garden harvest. Seed potatoes are whole or cut potato pieces used for planting new potato plants. Knowing how long you can store seed potatoes before their quality declines is key to getting a vigorous start to your crop.
Why Proper Storage Matters
Good quality seed potatoes are essential for robust plants and the highest yields come harvest time. Seed potatoes need to be kept dormant, in the dark, and at just the right temperature and humidity to maintain quality before planting. Stored improperly, they can begin sprouting, shriveling, or rotting – making them poor candidates for seed potatoes.
So how long can seed potatoes be stored before it’s time to get them in the ground?
Optimal Seed Potato Storage Conditions
The ideal storage conditions for seed potatoes before planting are
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Darkness – Light causes potatoes to turn green and produce toxins Store seed potatoes in complete darkness.
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Cool temperatures – Between 38°F and 40°F is optimal. Avoid letting them freeze.
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High humidity – Humidity should be maintained between 90-95% to prevent shriveling.
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Good ventilation – Adequate airflow prevents rot and condensation.
With proper cool, dark, humid storage, seed potatoes can be kept for months before planting.
Dormancy Period of Seed Potatoes
Another factor in seed potato storage duration is the natural dormancy period of potatoes.
Most potato varieties need 2-3 months of dormancy from harvest before they will sprout and grow properly when planted. This dormancy allows them time to recover from the stress of being dug and cured post-harvest.
So for best results, only use seed potatoes that have had their full dormancy period before planting.
If planted too soon, potatoes may be stressed, undersized, prone to disease, or never emerge at all!
Signs It’s Time to Plant the Seed Potatoes
After 2-3 months in proper storage conditions, seed potatoes will begin waking from dormancy and show signs they are ready to sprout and grow. Look for:
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Sprout formation – Little white sprouts will emerge from the potato’s eyes.
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Greening skin – Growth hormones cause the potato skin to take on a greenish hue.
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Wrinkling – The potato surface becomes wrinkly as stored starches convert to sugars to fuel sprout growth.
Once dormant seed potatoes exhibit sprouting and other signs of breaking dormancy after 2-3 months, it’s time to get them planted!
Maximum Seed Potato Storage Time
Seed potatoes can typically be stored for 4-6 months maximum before quality loss occurs. Storage life depends on potato variety and storage conditions.
With ideal storage conditions of complete darkness, 38-40°F, and very high humidity, most seed potatoes will stay viable for planting for 4-6 months after harvest.
After this time, sprouts may become long, thin and prone to breaking off. The seed potato itself will deteriorate as sugars are depleted to feed the sprouting. Rot and mold can set in.
For best results, try to plant stored seed potatoes within 4-6 months. Discard any that are moldy, excessively wrinkled, or have very long sprouts. These signals they’ve passed their storage prime.
Storing Home Grown Seed Potatoes
If saving your own potatoes for seed year-to-year, they should be dug and cured after the vines die back in fall. Curing means storing freshly dug potatoes at 60-70°F for 1-2 weeks which toughens skins for storage.
After curing, move them to ideal cool, dark, humid storage conditions as described above until planting time. Monitor periodically and remove any spoiled potatoes.
Many home growers use recycled boxes, old coolers, mesh bags, or crates for potato storage and organization. Just be sure to keep them in the proper environment.
Buying Seed Potatoes
When purchasing seed potatoes from a garden center, mail order supplier, or local potato farmer, opt for certified disease-free stocks. Ask when they were harvested and cured to gauge dormancy period and storage time remaining.
Look for varieties recommended for your growing zone. Make sure they are firm and unsprouted or just showing tiny white sprouts if it’s early spring planting time in your area. Avoid seed potatoes with long sprouts or green skin indicating improper storage or age.
Buy only what you will use in a season. Seed potatoes don’t store well long term once removed from commercial storage facilities.
Quick Tips for Storing Seed Potatoes
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Cure freshly harvested potatoes 1-2 weeks before long term storage.
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Keep seed potatoes dormant in complete darkness.
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Ideal temperature is 38-40°F; avoid freezing.
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Maintain very high humidity around 90-95%.
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Allow air circulation to prevent rot and mold.
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Check periodically and remove any spoiled potatoes.
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Allow 2-3 months dormancy before planting stored potatoes.
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Plant seed potatoes within 4-6 months maximum for best results.
Knowing how long you can store seed potatoes before planting is an important factor for growing a successful crop. With proper cool, dark, humid storage, seed tubers can be kept for 4-6 months typically before deterioration occurs. Allow potatoes 2-3 months dormancy after harvest before planting. Monitor for sprouting and other signs they are breaking dormancy and ready to grow. With the right storage and timing, your seed potatoes will get your crop off to a vigorous start!
How To Save Seed Potatoes From This Years Harvest To Grow Next Year
How long can you store seed potatoes?
In summary, to store seed potatoes for extended periods until planting time, focus on maintaining cool temperatures between 45-50°F, protecting from light exposure, using breathable containers, controlling excess moisture, and rotating your stored potatoes at intervals.
What temperature should seed potatoes be stored?
Ideally, seed potatoes should be stored at temperatures between 45-50°F for maximum length of storage. Higher temperatures above 50°F can cause potatoes to sprout prematurely or rot. Lower temperatures near freezing can also lead to sprouting, rot, or damage to the potatoes. Some ways to maintain ideal temperatures include:
How do I keep seed potatoes for planting next year?
Overall, keeping seed potatoes for planting next year is a simple process that can be done by any home grower. The key is to select healthy tubers which are the right size, store them properly, and keep the right amount for planting next year.
How long can a seed potato grow if dormant?
If dormant, Spring seed potatoes would at least make it to a Fall planting, right? @jbcreix longest you can hope is 200 days without treatment, and maybe a few more weeks using sprout inhibitors. But that’s not going to make a year but you’re not going to be able to alter the genetic programming for whatever type of seed potato you’ve already got.