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Vegetable Gardening

Pre-sprouted potatoes - how deep and how many sprouts?

15 years ago

I'll be pre-sprouting, or chitting, my seed potatoes, but I'm unclear on two things: how many eyes do I allow to sprout and how deep do I plant the sprouted seed?

Many UK sites talk about removing the cluster of eyes at one end (the crown) of a seed potato so that growth goes into the other eyes that are spaced around the sides of the seed. The explanation is that sprouts from the spaced-apart eyes result in larger tubers. (Of course, one wouldn't remove the eye cluster if there aren't other eyes on the sides.) Other sites say a seed should have at least 2-3 eyes. Does anyone have an opinion about whether 2-3 eyes is the most you want, rather than allowing all eyes on a seed to sprout?

Once seed has been sprouted, should it simply be planted the regular suggested depth (2"-3" under ground in a trough 3"-4" deep), with the sprout rising from that point, or should the sprout be sticking out of the ground?

Thanks.

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Comments (2)

wayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana
15 years ago
2 to 3 eyes per piece sounds fine to me and the planting depths you listed are very good too. Preferrably the sprouts should not be so tall that they stick out of the ground. One inch [25mm] or less is great with chubby green sprouts.
greenbean08_gw
15 years ago
When double-checking what I was doing before prepping my seed potatoes tonight, I read that on the early varieties, you should only leave 4 sprouts but on the mid-season you don't need to thin them. It didn't mention late. I also read that you want the sprouts to be green not white. If they're white they need more light and the site said to remove the white sprouts. Apparently you can rub off all the sprouts a few times without causing much overall damage.

I tried to find where I read this, but I don't remember where I read it. It may have been on a site linked from this one though...

Here is a link that might be useful: Washington State University potato varieties
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