In Jan this year I planted some cut up red potatoes in three containers. Four months later there was no sign of activity, no shoots or sprouts, I went through the soil in these containers thinking I would plant something else. But I started to find little potatoes in the soil, sizes from 1/4", 1/2", 3/4", to a few at 1.5", more than 50 total. There were no sprouts or stems or anything resembling a plant in the soil, just these small potatoes.

Three had a few small wispy roots so I put them back in the containers to see if they might grow, but I'm not sure what to do with the rest. Should I wait to see if they begin to sprout, and then plant them? I'm new to potato growing so some advice would be very useful.

John

Is there a potato forum on this website?

NO sorry, there is no potato forum. I am afraid you have not received a response as no one has a good answer for you.

I would think potatoes need the top growth to develop potatoes. I have never heard of an issue like you have. Sorry.

Be patient, perhaps someone with more knowledge will be along. And

Not as such, but potatoes both both Irish and sweet are vegetables so this is the place to post. I don't know how to answer your first post.

Irish potatoes are a cool weather crop. General practice is to cut a mature potato into pieces each containing two eyes (Dimples on the skin from which the sprouts emerge) Place the pieces about 4-6 inches deep and 12-18 inches apart in good friable soil about a month before last frost date. Since the tubers form above the roots, the lower part of vine needs to be continuously recovered ( hilling or mulching) as the plant grows.

In storage spouting potatoes will generate small tubers which are feeding off the stored energy in the mother potato. They never seem to do much. Bottom line. You need a robust vine to make new potatoes. Note that I am a field planter. Closest I have come to container planting is potato towers which were a fad at the turn of century. I was not impressed with the results nor do I see many folks promoting it today.

jbclem said:In Jan this year I planted some cut up red potatoes in three containers. Four months later there was no sign of activity, no shoots or sprouts, I went through the soil in these containers thinking I would plant something else. But I started to find little potatoes in the soil, sizes from 1/4", 1/2", 3/4", to a few at 1.5", more than 50 total. There were no sprouts or stems or anything resembling a plant in the soil, just these small potatoes.

Three had a few small wispy roots so I put them back in the containers to see if they might grow, but I'm not sure what to do with the rest. Should I wait to see if they begin to sprout, and then plant them? I'm new to potato growing so some advice would be very useful.
John

Where was the potato you planted; it should still be there yet in some form..