Potato

June 2012

Can I use store bought new potatoes to use as seed potatoes to plant in my vegetable garden?

No, you should use certified seed potatoes which you can get from a nursery or farm supply store in the early spring. It is too late to plant potatoes now. They are best planted in March or early April. Potatoes bought at the grocery store are typically treated to prevent sprouting. I have had some gardeners who planted some potatoes they had begun to sprout in their kitchen, and they had decent results, but usually struggle with disease issues. You can save some spring garden potatoes to use in a fall planting. Keep in mind that newly harvested potatoes have a natural dormancy which prevents them from sprouting, so you may want to make sure they are stored in a cool, dry place for a month or two before planting.