aprilconnett
On The Way Up
Joined: 27 Oct 2006
Location: Winston_Salem, NC
Posts: 161
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| Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:41 pm Post subject: Can I grow potatoes in winter? |
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I recenlty bought a bag of potatoes and several of them are sprouting. That leads me to believe they were not treated against this and I would actually be able to grow potatoes from these. Now, I'm pretty sure this is not the season to grow taters.
I am in zone 7, and our average first frost date has come and gone with no frost. COULD I grow taters in winter? Just plant them now, wait for them to sprout in Spring? Sort of Winter Sowing?
april
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
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Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 11522
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| Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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Hi April,
Potatoes are a cool weather crop. If you live in a cool climate you can plant potatoes in early spring three weeks before the last frost.
If you live in a warm to temperate region, plant your potatoes in late winter.
In a truly hot climate, plant potatoes in the fall to grow over the winter.
I'd definately give them a try. If they don't grow then at least you'll know not to try sowing them in winter again. Good luck!!! 
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bethie
Highly Skillful
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
Location: WestTennessee (Map)
Posts: 1593
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| Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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I also live in zone 7. Frost and freeze kills potato vines. We sometimes plant in early march and the vine will be bit back and then slowly come to life again. They are very prone to rot in the wet and cold. 
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stratsmom
Flower Fanatic
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Location: Southern Oregon (Map)
Posts: 986
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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If I remember right, my mom would cut off one of the sprouts and put it in a glass of water in the kitchen window and we'd watch it grow. My sister and I were easily entertained!!! 
Deanna
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glendann
Official Garden Angel
Joined: 19 May 2006
Location: Texas (Map)
Posts: 6994
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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Deanna are you sure it was and Irish potato she put in water.My mom put sweet potato in a big mouth jar and the vines would grow all around the window.
Irish potatoes are to be planted in the Spring and as Bethie said frost will kill them back .They can't survive in cold winter.
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nan1234
On The Way Up
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Location: Chicago Area
Posts: 160
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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You can try to grow them indoor. Put about 5 inces of soil in a container and then "seed" the potato with 4 inch apprt. Add soil gragually as they grow until to the container is filled with soil and form a mound. When you add soil, do not bury the plant completely.
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stratsmom
Flower Fanatic
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Location: Southern Oregon (Map)
Posts: 986
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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Heck Glenda, I don't remember It's been a long long time since I was a little kid!!! I remember Mom doing the same thing with avocado seeds. I have a great mom!
Deanna
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glendann
Official Garden Angel
Joined: 19 May 2006
Location: Texas (Map)
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| Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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I soak avocado seeds and just plant them and they grow.
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Biita
Arctic-ally Challenged Forager
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Location: Norway (Map)
Posts: 1805
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| Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 9:20 am Post subject: |
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I grow potatoes here in the artic, but i start from seed potatoes, not seeds or sprouts. when i get the new bag, i put them all out in trays an spray down to get them a good soaking. the trays have openings in them so they don't lay in water. then i stack the trays on top of each other an cover it all with a rug, they need the dark to sprout. i do this in my basement about feb- march. an keep watering them untill you plant them outdoors, for me is about jun here. but since in the summer we have light 24 hours a day, the plants never rest, even if its rainy. so i usually have potatoes by oct. as soon as you harvest make sure you refertalize or your plants will be thin an very very small if any potatoes. then fertalize again before you plant in the spring or summer.
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