How To Grow Potatoes... From Potatoes

How to Grow Potatoes from Potatoes

It’s hard to beat the satisfaction of pulling a potato from the soil, knowing it started as a humble tuber tossed into the ground. Potatoes practically beg for a second chance at life. You just need to know how to give it to them.

Pick the Right Potato

Start by choosing the right kind of potato. No, you can’t just grow any spud from your kitchen counter. Many grocery store potatoes are treated with sprout inhibitors, which makes them stubborn about growing.

Grab certified seed potatoes instead. These are untreated, disease-free, and specifically grown for planting. It’s worth the small investment to avoid heartbreak later. Trust me.

That said, I've had great luck planting leftovers from my pantry—just be prepared to take a gamble. If they’ve started sprouting those gnarly, alien-like "eyes," they’re ready for action.

Prep Your Spuds

Here’s a trick: cut your seed potatoes into chunks, about the size of a golf ball. Each piece *must* have at least one or two eyes, or it’s a no-go. If you're working with smaller potatoes, you can plant them whole.

After cutting, let the pieces sit out for a couple of days. The exposed flesh will “scab over,” which helps prevent rot in the ground. This step feels like a waste of time, but skipping it can doom your harvest before it begins.

Choose the Right Spot

Potatoes love two things: loose, well-draining soil and direct sunlight. Clay soil? Forget it. You’ll end up with knobby, misshapen tubers that fight with the ground like unruly kids at bedtime.

Raised beds or large containers are perfect if your soil is less than ideal. I’ve even used old garbage bags filled with soil, which worked surprisingly well. Potatoes aren’t picky about aesthetics; they just want a little space to stretch.

Planting the Spuds

1. Dig a trench about 6-8 inches deep and as long as you want. Keep rows about 3 feet apart so you can maneuver later.
2. Place your potato pieces cut-side down, eye-side up, spaced about 12 inches apart. Picture them like loafers sitting neatly in a row.
3. Cover with about 3-4 inches of soil, but don’t fill the trench completely—save that soil for later.

If you’re doing containers, plant the pieces about 4 inches deep and fill the container only halfway. You’ll add more soil as the plants grow.

Hill, Hill, and Hill Again

Here’s where most people go wrong: potatoes need frequent hilling. As the plants grow, you’ll notice their stems start to stretch upward. This is your cue to shovel more soil around the base of the plants, burying the lower leaves.

Hilling keeps sunlight off developing tubers, which ensures they stay edible (and not toxic). Plus, it encourages more potatoes to form.

Repeat this every time the plants grow 6-8 inches, stopping when the soil mound reaches about a foot high. Hilling feels repetitive, but it’s one of the few “chores” that really pays off in quantity and quality.

Water Strategically

Potatoes like consistent moisture but hate soggy soil. Overwater, and you’ll end up with rot. Underwater, and the plants will sulk.

I like to water deeply once a week, sticking my finger into the soil to check moisture levels. If it feels dry past your first knuckle, grab the hose. Mulch helps a ton here by locking in moisture and keeping weeds at bay.

Know When to Harvest

The hardest part of growing potatoes is resisting the urge to dig them up too soon. Once the plants flower, you can sneak a few “new potatoes” by gently reaching into the soil. Think of these as bonuses.

However, for mature potatoes, you’ll need patience. Wait until the foliage dies back completely. It’s not pretty, but it’s your signal that the tubers are ready to come out.

Digging Them Up

Use a garden fork instead of a shovel—it’s less likely to cut into your potatoes. Start digging about a foot away from the plant and work your way inward carefully.

Once they’re out, brush off excess dirt but don’t wash them yet. Let them cure in a cool, dark spot for a week or two. This toughens their skins and improves storage life.

Final Thoughts

Growing potatoes from potatoes feels like alchemy. One neglected, sprouted tuber transforms into pounds of delicious harvest. They’ll keep surprising you, even when you think you know what to expect.

If you’ve never done it before, don’t overthink it. Start small, make a few mistakes, and let the potatoes teach you something. They always do.

Growing your own potatoes is a rewarding venture that starts with something as simple as a potato itself. By selecting quality seed potatoes and preparing well-drained soil, you're setting the stage for a bountiful harvest. Remember to cut the seed potatoes into pieces with at least one eye per piece to ensure growth, and give them space once they go in the ground.

Regularly hilling the soil around the base of plants as they grow helps to protect emerging tubers from sunlight, which can make them green and toxic. Consistent watering and being vigilant with pests will keep your plants healthy throughout the growing season.

As you demonstrate how to grow potatoes from potatoes, patience becomes your best ally. Harvest time is an exciting reward, typically when the tops of the plants start to wilt and turn yellow. Dig gently to avoid damaging your crop. With these basics in hand, you're well-equipped to grow delicious potatoes in your own garden and savor the fruits of your labor.