I am reading this:


https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edi...r-potatoes.htm

"Cut the seed potatoes into 2-inch chunks that have several eyes on
them. Small potatoes can be planted as they are."

- Really? cut them up? It always looked to me that the shoots came out
of one end and the roots from the other, so if you only had half a spud
would it still grow?

TW

In article , TimW wrote:

"Cut the seed potatoes into 2-inch chunks that have several eyes on
them. Small potatoes can be planted as they are."

- Really? cut them up? It always looked to me that the shoots came out
of one end and the roots from the other, so if you only had half a spud
would it still grow?

Both shoots and roots come from the eyes, and both can come from the
same one. In extremis, one eye per chunk is all you need.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 16/02/2019 14:31, Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article , TimW wrote:

"Cut the seed potatoes into 2-inch chunks that have several eyes on
them. Small potatoes can be planted as they are."

- Really? cut them up? It always looked to me that the shoots came out
of one end and the roots from the other, so if you only had half a spud
would it still grow?

Both shoots and roots come from the eyes, and both can come from the
same one. In extremis, one eye per chunk is all you need.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

curioser and curioser!
I seem to remember my Dad or someone saying 'plant them eyes up' (or it
might have been down), but from what you say it wouold be either, or
neither way.

TW

In article , says...

I am reading this:


https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edi...r-potatoes.htm

"Cut the seed potatoes into 2-inch chunks that have several eyes on
them. Small potatoes can be planted as they are."

- Really? cut them up?

Yes. Though bought seed-potatoes are generally so small you can only
cut each one in two. If you saved larger potatoes from your own crop,
they can be cut into more pieces.

Sprout them before you cut them.

My grandfather always did this then dipped each cut piece in wood ash
(cold, dry) to coat the raw surface, which he claimed repels slugs and
prevents rot. So I've always done the same.


It always looked to me that the shoots came out
of one end and the roots from the other,

You can't have looked very closely. Any "eye" on the potato will
produce both roots and shoots.

https://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16754589.tip.html

Janet.