Hello!
My name is Einav, and I'm a teacher. I'm reaching out to you for some guidance and advice on growing potatoes indoors as part of a classroom project I'm conducting with my students.

Due to limited resources and the absence of a garden, we've been growing potatoes inside the classroom. Our approach so far has involved starting the potatoes in a cup of water until roots and stems develop, and then transplanting them into soil. While we've had some successes in the past, we've also encountered challenges and some potatoesthat got rotten.

Recently, we experienced the unfortunate loss of some potatoes after moving them to another room. I'm wondering if the change in temperature may have contributed to this. Could it be that the new environment was too hot for the potatoes to thrive?

Additionally, I would greatly appreciate any advice or best practices you can offer for successfully growing potatoes indoors under these circumstances.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this email, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Do not bother to put the potatoes in water; you do not want them to root outside of the soil they are going into. -- (Now I know Seed Savers start potatoes in manners other than simply garden growing standards but that is for producing potatoes varieties for sale) -- If you are doing this as a garden -- indoor -- mode then just sprout the potatoes and get them in soil. Make sure the container is large enough that the potato is not overly constrained.

Here are three university quips on growing temp.:
Michigan State:
Potatoes are a cool season crop; ideal temperatures for crop growth are 65 to 80 during the day and 55 to 65 at night. The soil should be cultivated 6 to 8 inches deep in the spring, and large soil clods should be broken up or removed before planting. Plant potatoes when soil temperatures are above 45 F.

Cornell Univ.:
Days to emergence: 14 to 28 - Sprouts from seed potatoes should emerge in 2 to 4 weeks depending on soil temperature. Maintenance and care: Potatoes perform best in areas where summers are cool (65 F to 70 F), but are widely adapted. Potatoes require well-drained soil.

Calif. Univ.:
The vines grow best when temperatures are 60° to 65° with a maximum of 80°. Tubers will start growing when soil temperatures are about 45°. Tuber production is reduced when soil temperatures reach 75° and stops completely at 85°. The vines are tender and will be damaged by frost at about 30°.

Hello Einav,
We are happy to help out a teacher and thank you for your service. Starting potato vines in water doesn't work very well. But I remember as a kid we did it all the time with sweet potatoes. It was a lot of fun. This website will help you understand and give you instructions. Hugs to you and all your kids!
https://www.abc.net.au/everyda...

Einav said: Hello!
Our approach so far has involved starting the potatoes in a cup of water until roots and stems develop, and then transplanting them into soil.

Do you mean sweet potatoes? (Ipomoea)
While it can work, I find that sweet potatoes will grow vines without the water.
And... They may well die when moved... I've found them to be a difficult house plant.
Sweet potatoes want warm / hot temps, and plenty of light.
If you are growing in a window, you may want additional light.

On the other hand...
If you are growing 'Irish' taters... (Solanum)
They are cool season plants, and moving into too much heat could have killed them.

Additionally they will need lots of sun to form new potatoes.
Bush Beans would be a better choice.