Potatoes v. Seed Potatoes: The Difference?

Can anyone explain the difference between potatoes and seed potatoes?

I just bought organic seed potatoes from Wood Prairie Farm in Maine - a place I've bought from before, with a wide range, if now dwindling (at this late date), choice of potatoes.

Now, I know I could Google to get the answer but wonder if my astute readers (farmers among them) could provide the answer in the comments.

I think I am going to grow these in an expandable bin. This article explains how you can get 100 pounds in a 4x4x4 bin. I don't need that many so am trying a 2x4 footprint if I can get my act together and build it.
- Samuel Fromartz

Comments

[Ang]

I didn't think there was a difference, other than the fact that seed potatoes are grown with the intention of using them to grow more plants, rather than with the intention of eating them. And for that reason you're going to know exactly what variety a seed potato is, rather than generic labeling you might see on potatoes bought at a grocery (e.g. "red potatoes"). Seed potatoes may be pre-sprouted when you receive them (i.e. with eyes on them), which would be undesirable on eating potatoes. Conventional seed potatoes might be treated with products to make them disease or insect or rot resistant, so you wouldn't want to eat them. I wouldn't think organic potatoes could be treated, but I'm no expert. I've just grown potatoes a few times in my kitchen garden.

[B.]

Seed potatoes are also generally tested for disease, which grocery store potatoes can spread to your garden, affecting all nightshades for years to come. Likewise, sweet potatoes, garlic, and shallots are all growable from the store, but often better-yielding from "seed".

[Farmer Troy]

Seed potatoes are generally the same as potatoes, but they have been inspected for disease and have usually been held over the winter in a climate controlled environment to keep them from spouting until Spring planting time.

BTW, Wood Prairie Farm is a great source for seed potatoes. I have purchased from them in the past.

[Ed Bruske]

Potatoes in the store often have been treated to prevent them from sprouting.

Sam, you can also grow potatoes like this with used tires, stacking the tires and backfilling with diret as the potatoes grow. Potatoes are actually a stem growth, not a root--the taller the stem, the more potatoes you will get, as long as you cover the stem with soil.

[Amanda Rose]

I've got potatoes in the kitchen right now turning into seed potatoes. :) Like the others who have posted, we buy seed potatoes to ensure a certain breed and quality. Some of those we then use the following season when we're organized

I like the tire concept. You could craft something with wood to achieve the same.

Amanda

[Sam Fromartz]

Thanks everyone - yes, clearly a disease issue. Hopefully since I'll be growing these above ground they won't get diseases that will be left in the ground.

[Paul Kobulnicky]

Sam ... like most things you have to evaluate risks. No matter what the source, there are risks of infections. I start potatoes from three sources. I buy seed potatoes once in a while. I also store my potatoes over the winter for my kitchen use and the small ones at the end of the season are often in full sprout so i plant them if they look sound. Finally, I will sometimes purchase local spuds from the market in the spring just because they are fairly well sprouted and I can plant them if I need more seed. What I have just written should be viewed as less risk to more risk. What I cannot say is what the baseline is for the risk ... although I think it is all quite small.

You are supposed to cut your seed potatoes and let the cut dry before planting. Use this as an opportunity to inspect the inside of the potato and do not plant any when you have less than a perfect potato on the inside.

Finally, if you do get infected soil, even above ground, put that soil somewhere else in your yard ... not back into the compost or the garden.

One final note ... potatoes that are starting to sprout are actually more desirable, in some circumstances, to eat since they have converted more starch to sugars during storage. Try them for pommes frites and you will see how brown they get and how great they taste.

pjkobulnicky