Yes, You Can Grow Potatoes From a Potato: Complete Guide

Yes, you can absolutely grow potatoes from a potato—in fact, this is how potatoes are traditionally propagated. Unlike many vegetables that grow from seeds, potatoes reproduce through tubers, making it possible to cultivate a new crop using just one potato.

Grow Your Own Potatoes: A Complete Guide for Home Gardeners

Discover how to transform a single potato into a bountiful harvest with minimal resources. This guide provides science-backed methods used by experienced gardeners to successfully grow potatoes from potatoes, complete with practical tips to avoid common pitfalls and maximize your yield.

Understanding Potato Propagation: It's Not What You Think

When you ask "can u grow potatoes from a potato," the answer reveals a fascinating biological process. Potatoes don't grow from seeds like most vegetables—they're tubers, specialized underground storage organs that naturally produce "eyes" or sprouts. These sprouts develop into new potato plants through a process called vegetative propagation.

Commercial farmers and home gardeners alike use "seed potatoes" for planting—which are simply potatoes specifically grown for reproduction, not consumption. This method preserves the exact genetic characteristics of the parent potato, ensuring consistent results.

Seed Potatoes	Grocery Store Potatoes
Certified disease-free	May contain sprout inhibitors
Specifically grown for planting	Treated for longer shelf life
Higher success rate (85-95%)	Lower success rate (40-60%)
Available in specific varieties	Limited to common varieties

Source: Oregon State University Extension Service - Certified seed potatoes significantly reduce disease transmission compared to grocery store potatoes.

The Potato Growth Timeline: What to Expect

Understanding the growth stages helps you provide proper care at each critical phase. Here's the typical timeline when growing potatoes from potatoes:

1. Pre-sprouting (Chitting): 2-4 weeks before planting - potatoes develop small sprouts
2. Planting to Emergence: 2-4 weeks - shoots break through soil surface
3. Vegetative Growth: 4-6 weeks - leafy plants develop
4. Tuber Initiation: 6-8 weeks - underground tubers begin forming
5. Tuber Bulking: 8-12 weeks - potatoes grow to full size
6. Maturity: 10-16 weeks - foliage yellows, signaling harvest time

Source: USDA Agricultural Research Service - Potato varieties have different maturity periods, with early varieties ready in 70-90 days and late varieties taking 110-130 days.

Step-by-Step: Growing Potatoes from Potatoes

Selecting Your Potato Starter

Choose potatoes specifically intended for planting rather than consumption. Certified seed potatoes from garden centers or reputable online suppliers guarantee disease-free stock and variety accuracy. While grocery store potatoes might sprout, they often contain sprout inhibitors and carry higher disease risks.

Best varieties for beginners:

• Russet Burbank (baking potatoes)
• Yukon Gold (all-purpose)
• Red Pontiac (boiling potatoes)
• Kennebec (reliable yield)

Preparing Potatoes for Planting

Proper preparation significantly increases your success rate:

1. Chitting (pre-sprouting): Place potatoes in a cool, bright location for 2-4 weeks until 1/2-inch sprouts develop
2. Cutting (if needed): For larger potatoes, cut into 1.5-2 inch pieces with at least 1-2 eyes per piece
3. Curing: Allow cut pieces to dry for 24-48 hours to form protective calluses

Planting Your Potatoes

Timing and technique are crucial for successful potato growth:

• When to plant: 2-4 weeks before last frost date, when soil temperature reaches 45°F (7°C)
• Soil requirements: Loose, well-draining soil with pH 5.0-6.0
• Planting depth: 3-4 inches deep, eyes facing up
• Spacing: 12-15 inches between plants, 24-36 inches between rows

Caring for Growing Potato Plants

Proper maintenance ensures healthy growth and maximum yield:

• Hilling: When plants reach 6-8 inches tall, mound soil around base (repeat every 2-3 weeks)
• Watering: Consistent moisture (1-2 inches per week), especially during tuber formation
• Fertilizing: Balanced fertilizer at planting, then high-potassium feed during tuber development
• Pest monitoring: Watch for Colorado potato beetles and aphids

Harvesting Your Potatoes

Knowing when and how to harvest affects storage potential:

• New potatoes: Harvest 2-3 weeks after flowering for small, tender potatoes
• Main crop: Wait until foliage yellows and dies back completely
• Digging technique: Use a fork to carefully lift plants from soil
• Curing: Dry harvested potatoes in cool, dark place for 2 weeks before storage

Avoid These Common Potato Growing Mistakes

Even experienced gardeners make these errors that reduce yields:

• Planting too early in cold, wet soil (causes rot)
• Using grocery store potatoes treated with sprout inhibitors
• Insufficient hilling (exposes tubers to sunlight, causing greening)
• Inconsistent watering (leads to cracked or misshapen potatoes)
• Harvesting too early (small yield) or too late (damaged by frost)

Source: University of Minnesota Extension - Proper hilling technique prevents tuber greening, which produces solanine, a toxic compound that makes potatoes unsafe to eat.

When Potato Propagation Won't Work

While growing potatoes from potatoes is generally reliable, certain conditions limit success:

• Disease transmission: Using infected potatoes spreads diseases like blight or scab
• Climate limitations: Potatoes struggle in consistently hot climates (above 80°F/27°C)
• Soil issues: Heavy clay soils cause misshapen tubers and rot
• Day length sensitivity: Some varieties require specific day lengths to form tubers

For optimal results, match potato varieties to your local climate and growing conditions. Short-season varieties work best in northern regions, while long-season types thrive in southern areas with cooler springs.

Troubleshooting Common Potato Problems

Identify and address these frequent issues:

• Yellowing leaves: Could indicate nutrient deficiency, overwatering, or disease
• Small tubers: Often caused by overcrowding, poor soil, or inconsistent watering
• Green spots on potatoes: Exposure to sunlight—always hill properly to cover developing tubers
• Hollow centers: Result from rapid growth followed by drought conditions
• Scab lesions: Caused by soil bacteria—maintain consistent moisture to prevent

Conclusion: Your Potato Growing Journey Begins Now

Growing potatoes from potatoes is one of the most rewarding and accessible gardening projects for beginners. With proper selection, preparation, and care, you can transform a single potato into dozens of harvestable tubers. Remember that patience and attention to detail—particularly with watering consistency and hilling—make the difference between a modest yield and a bountiful harvest.

Start small with just a few seed potatoes this season, and you'll likely find yourself expanding your potato patch year after year as you discover the superior flavor and satisfaction of homegrown potatoes.

Can you grow potatoes from store-bought potatoes?

Yes, but with limitations. Grocery store potatoes often contain sprout inhibitors that reduce success rates. Certified seed potatoes are disease-free and specifically grown for planting, offering 85-95% success compared to 40-60% for store-bought potatoes.

How long does it take to grow potatoes from a potato?

Early varieties take 70-90 days from planting to harvest, while main crop varieties require 110-130 days. The timeline includes 2-4 weeks for sprouting, 4-6 weeks for vegetative growth, and 4-8 weeks for tuber development.

Do you need to cut potatoes before planting?

Small potatoes (golf ball size) can be planted whole. Larger potatoes should be cut into 1.5-2 inch pieces with 1-2 eyes each, then cured for 24-48 hours to form protective calluses before planting.

Why are my homegrown potatoes small?

Small potatoes typically result from overcrowding, inconsistent watering, poor soil nutrition, or harvesting too early. Ensure proper spacing (12-15 inches between plants), consistent moisture, and wait until foliage yellows completely before harvesting.

Can you grow potatoes in containers?

Yes, potatoes grow well in containers like grow bags, barrels, or large pots. Use at least a 10-gallon container per plant, fill with quality potting mix, and add more soil as plants grow to encourage tuber formation along the stem.