I believe the answer is no but someone may disagree. The eye sprouts need the energy stored in the seed potatoes for their initial growth until they can develop enough leaves to provide them with photosynthesis. Very similar to growing anything from seed, the seed provides the energy for initial growth and then the seed leaves take over providing for the plant.

But then again it couldn't hurt to try sticking them in some dampened potting mix now and see what happens!

Have to agree with Jack. I suppose you could try if you wanted to experiment but it's a waste of time and effort IMO. The best that can happen is some of the eyes might develop a few water roots but even if those could be kept alive and growing for months they often don't adapt to soil transplanting and nutrient uptake. The odds of any actual potato production is slim to none.

It can work with sweet potatoes given the way they develop on the plant roots. But Irish potatoes don't work that way as they develop from stolens that develop on the plant stem above the roots themselves and that large chunk of original potato is what gives the stolens the growth energy required.

Why not just buy more of the same potatoes near proper planting time and plan to use them as seed?

Dave

These potatoes are not commercially available--I can't get any more. I did once read that potato parings could be grown, if they contained intact eyes.

Paring will work IF you peel them thick. This was common practice in my youth to use potato peelings for planting as every bit of food had to be preserved. Unlees they have quite a bit of potato attached tho, they are difficult to store for any lenght of time. Many vendors in the 60's improved on this idea by selling potato eyes. A half inch round chunk of potato containing the eye. Worked fine and saved a lot on shipping costs. Have not seen them lately, most likely too labor intensive to remove those plugs.

I recall that some of the old timers used to grow from just the eyes, or sprouts, but it is much easier to just cut, dry, and then plant sections with an adequate number of eyes. Not sure how closely related they are, but sweet potatos are grown from eyes or slips as they're called. Anyone who has grown both will attest that growing from chunks with eyes is easier than getting slips to grow, at least in my experience.

Good luck,

I have potatoes just starting to eye out so I was thinking about trying to slow them down until they could be planted out. It'll be a while until planting time here in zone 5 - so any suggestions on how to get these potatoes to become more dormant for a while until spring planting would be appreciated.

I came to this forum to ask about sprouting potatoes. I find people are asking same questions. Potatoes sprouting too early. I have several potatoes of an heirloom variety and they've started sprouting already. From what I remember potatoes have to be planted when the ground warms up. What soil temperature is needed to plant potatoes? How do I slow down my potatoes and they start to rot before planting time?

For Irish potatoes soil does not have to be warm. Typically planted after the ground thaws and drys enogh so it is not soggy. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a tropical root in the morning glory group. Little in common with Solanum tuberosum.

Keep potatoes that are starting to sprout in full light in a cool place that stays above freezing. I chit potatoes by a window in a cool guest room each year, and the sprouts stay small and compact with the sunlight and the cool temps......don't know what I'll do if guests want to visit during that time :)

Here's an article on potato chitting: http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/greensprouting-potatoes-zb0z1203zlon.aspx

Since you already have sprouts you should start with the, "Then move the
spuds to a cooler location (about 50 degrees Fahrenheit) and expose them
to light for about three weeks. The light will make the sprouts turn
green and stay stocky," part of the directions.

I find cooler soil temps are okay with soils that drain well. When I plant in clay soils, I wait for warmer temps. I've lost a few when I started early in the heavy soil. Potatoes planted in sandy soil have done fine in the cooler temps. I'd prefer to always grow potatoes in the lighter soil, but that isn't always an option for me.

barbara_ulrich87

'Food for Thought'

The first time I grew potatoes was by accident. I always throw all my vegetable scraps into my compost pile. One day I saw all these ttataltall weeds growing in there. So I grabbed them by their thick stalk and pulled them out. I was shocked to see potatoes attached!!! I never knew it was so easy. They all grew just from the eyes. After that I started growing potatoes from my peels with eyes. I always buy organic because treated potatoes will not sprout easily. Recently I bought seed potatoes and grew them alongside my 'eyes' and they produced equally well.

Since you want to save the particular potato you've enjoyed I'd go ahead and plant the peels in the ground if you still have them. Potatoes will overwinter and grow on their own. My mom always buried her kitchen scraps in her garden and occasionally she'd get a volunteer potato plant. As AnneMarie related you'll have to overcome the anti-sprout treatment on the potato. You only need one plant to give you tubers to plant the following year.