Potatoes are almost always grown using tubers. In this case, new plants are obtained as "clones" of those that were last year - and this is not always good: over time, potatoes begin to degenerate and gain diseases that destroy the crop. You can break the cycle of degeneration by sowing seeds. I tried to do this and now I want to share my experience.
Why did I take this
I decided to try growing potatoes from seeds for several reasons:
- The variety that I always planted has finally degenerated. The tubers began to grow small, diseased, catching any disease - from the banal phytophthora to those that I could not even identify.
- It was not possible to buy elite tubers for sowing, and I decided to grow them myself.
- Finally, I was curious what would come of it.
I must say right away: an interesting result turned out, but I will not risk recommending it as the only true way of landing.
Getting seeds
Potato seeds can be bought in specialized stores - but I decided to get them myself. To do this, on the selected plot, I not only did not pick the flowers from the potatoes, but also let the berries ripen. It turned out small green fruits, vaguely resembling tomatoes (well, they are relatives with potatoes!)
These berries ripen quite late, so I did not leave them on the bush. At the beginning of September, I collected two dozen of the largest and most mature ones, after which I tied them in gauze and hung them to ripen on the veranda - the windows there face south, and the autumn was warm. When the berries became soft, I gently crushed them with a teaspoon in a plate. I washed the resulting porridge with settled water, after which I got about half a handful of seeds. I dried them on toilet paper, and then folded them into a paper bag until spring.
Sowing
In the spring, I divided the seeds into two batches - I decided to try to grow potatoes and seedlings, and right in the ground. I hardened both batches before sowing by placing them overnight in the refrigerator for three days in a row, and also soaked them on a damp cloth for a week in a row until sprouts appeared.
I will say right away: those seeds that I sowed directly into the ground, all died. Therefore, I categorically do not recommend repeating my mistakes. Seed potatoes in Russia are best grown only through seedlings.
I sowed seedlings in early April. I filled one container with purchased universal soil for seedlings, but it was not enough for the second, and I he himself mixed soil mixtures from high-moor peat, humus, soil and calcined sand for lightness and drainage. Sow seeds at a depth of one and a half at a distance of about 5 cm from each other. The soil was well sprayed from the sprayer, covered with glass and left to germinate.
Shoots appeared ten days later. I checked them every day and sprinkled the soil with water as needed: the sprouts were so tender that they could break from the watering can. For good growth, I fed them with urea at the rate of 10 g per bucket of water.
Transfer
Not all seedlings survived to transplant, but I received quite a few future potato bushes. In the second half of May, I transferred the potatoes to the open ground. Each plant was planted in a hole about 10 cm deep, covered with pure humus, after which he sprinkled the roots with a layer of earth on top, sprayed with water and left to grow.
Two weeks later he planted his crops for the first time. The second hilling was carried out as usual, when the rooted seedlings bloomed.
In September, when the tops withered and turned yellow, he harvested the first crop of seed potatoes.
Experiment results
Having sowed potato seeds, I was convinced that it was possible to stop the degeneration of the variety and get elite tubers of the first generation in my garden. It is difficult, but quite accessible to an experienced gardener.
However, I can’t recommend this method to everyone either:
- The germination of potato seeds is very poor. Approximately half of the harvested ones simply did not sprout. Even soaking doesn't help much.
- Young potatoes grown from seeds are very capricious. Either the sun will burn him, then he has too much water, then, if poured, the black leg will destroy the plants. Yes, after transplanting into open ground, several bushes simply did not take root.
- There is much more fuss with such potatoes than with ordinary potatoes grown from tubers.
- Most importantly, small potatoes grow from seeds. They are suitable for planting (I then grew them), but they cannot be used for food.
If you also tried to grow potatoes from seeds, please share your experience. I would be happy to compare results.
Read also: Ways to plant potatoes that will give the maximum amount of harvest
Another related article: Gymnospermous pumpkin: description. My recommendations for growing and further care of the plant
Friends, do not forget to subscribe to the channel and leave a LIKE if the article is useful!
#growing potatoes from seeds#garden#tips and tricks