[DeepSouthBamaGRITS]

Very interesting project! I was just reading today about determinate & indeterminate varieties of potatoes. The info even spoke about planting potato seeds and even tho you may plant a determinate variety potato seed, it may end up being indeterminate or may not produce at all.

When a potato plant blooms & potato cherries form (looks like clusters of small cherry tomatoes ABOVE ground on the plant), the little seeds can germinate, and you get a potato plant growing – you may think it came from a seed potato tuber you planted, but it is actually an entirely new cultivar that came from a seed!

Here is the article I read in case you are interested in reading it, too. But I imagine you already know all about this process since you are well-versed & knowledgeable in the propagation of many plants/trees. But I found it to be a very interesting read and something I did not know!

Do keep us posted on this project. I LOVE experimenting with different ways to grow & propagate all kinds of trees & plants! Good Luck!!

https://www.uaex.uada.edu/counties/white/news/horticulture/202007Tomatoes_or_Potatoes.aspx

[Hippocrates_Garden]

It’s a shame the article was from Arkansas (where I live) though it could just as likely be from any state. I’m not sure if I’m surprised, or sad, that not only are many caught off guard, but it’s worthy of a writeup at the university level, on a topic that likely 4 generations or more ago would have been common knowledge by anyone closer to, and observant of the land, nature and such.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  Hippocrates_Garden.

[DeepSouthBamaGRITS]

Yeah, the University of Arkansas Department of Agriculture “HORTICULTURE” department posts an article that would be an embarrassment to those knowledgeable of this process. SMH!!

I am a novice potato grower. I’m learning and trying to understand how they grow, and how they originated as almost all plants/trees start from seed. Some trees have to be grafted in order to produce edible fruit unless you get LUCKY to find the perfect seed that would be true to the parent plant and possibly wait years for it to actually produce.

I’m not well versed using correct terminology, as I’m just a “shade tree propagator”, like the so-called “shade tree mechanic” term. But that does not keep me from wanting to learn the how/why of where cultivars come from or originate.

Back in December I was hoping to find “seed potatoes” to plant for experiments I wanted to do to extend my growing season. I was searching online for French Fingerlings, a potato that grows & produces well in my zone. Knowing it wasn’t the right time of year for finding seed potatoes, I was in hopes to find a company that may have some in storage (as us homesteaders keep for planting next seasons crops).
I found a company that had some, or so I thought. I misread the description thinking it said SEED POTATOES but went back and looked after I received my order to find that it said French Fingerling Potato Seeds. I had received a little packet of tiny seeds. What the heck? I assumed I had gotten scammed, so just put the seeds in my seed collection and forgot about them UNTIL I was researching yesterday about the determinate/indeterminant varieties of potatoes. The info I read spoke of potatoes flowering AND WITH PROPER WEATHER CONDITIONS, the flowers would get pollinated & produce the potato cherries which contain seeds. Then I looked up info on POTATO CHERRIES and found more info that peaked my curiosity. I remember the 1st year I grew potatoes. I had beautiful plants I had planted in half 55-gallon drums. They produced beautiful purple flowers, which I had no clue they would flower. I didn’t examine the plants after they died back to see if I actually had the tomato cherries/fruit. I harvested the potatoes & discarded the dead tops in my compost pile. I wondered why I had potato plants emerge in my compost pile and just ASSUMED I had left some of the small tiny round tubers on the plants.

I DID discover that the small little tubers WILL sprout as I had saved a bunch of the smaller tubers in with my “seed potatoes” to plant this year. Most every one had sprouted, I planted them a few weeks ago and they have actually produced plants! I’ve always been told that something that small would not produce a plant and when you cut potatoes to plant they had to be a certain size. I CALL BULL CRAP on that theory and have proof growing in my garden now!

Just thought I would share this with you. I’m going to plant those seeds I ordered to see if I can grow seedlings to plant and do more experiments. Just cause… 😉

PS…is that you in the vid Oxbow Farm & your channel?? I watched a bunch of those vid’s last night and have learned so much.

[Hippocrates_Garden]

still reading your reply but want to say this before I forget SQUIRREL!.. sorry.. I’m back. In case I misspoke, my surprise, is actually more correctly my sadness, that much of this info would have been common knowledge to a degree, and I wasn’t a recipient of that knowledge through natural handing down, from generation to generation, and it has been left to Universities, books and social media to even find the rabbit holes to go down. I’m far from an expert, perhaps just now getting to the point I can realize just how far away I am from that, and it makes me sad that so much has been lost (or hidden on purpose), and it seems we also forget that we need not go solely to the system credentialed “experts” with book knowledge, we can (if we can find them) go to the practical experts to learn what should be a birthright.

[DeepSouthBamaGRITS]

Not sure I understand your intentions in using the word “SQUIRREL”. If you are referencing the social media term then my numerous lengthy posts/replies/comments probably annoy you. I am not seeking attention, validation, or looking for ways to get likes or a lot of comments. When I comment/reply or even make a post, I tend to be explicit with details so I don’t have to continuously go back to answer more questions. I post here to try to HELP people with things I know from my 66 yrs of dealing with life, gardening, DIY projects, etc. Plain & simple. Some people here are looking for quick, simple, & frugal ways of doing things, especially those just starting homesteading that may be on a tight budget but need to get things done given the uncertain times we are living in. I am paying it forward with my knowledge & experience in hopes the current generation & even future generations can learn from someone that has truly been there & done that. If I post something here you can rest assured I HAVE DONE IT, I made mistakes, I corrected them, and moved on to another project. My way may not be perfect, but it is neither right nor wrong depending on the one possibly needing the info. There may be better and or easier ways, if so, share it as I’m open to constructive criticism.
I can remember being a SPONGE for info (and still am when trying to learn something new) but had NO ONE to ask or assist me when I had questions. I had to learn things the hard way and all by trial & error. That is why I post as I do to make it easier for someone else. And yes, it does my heart good when someone tells me I’ve helped them or thanks me for the info I shared so MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
You spoke of “common knowledge” not being handed down thru the generations. Yes, it is sad that those ways are lost and some will be forever gone. THIS is why I do what I do here…to try to pass down some knowledge that took me YEARS to learn, even tho it may not be perfect, at least I’m trying to make a difference in lives going forward.
I have compassion for people, that is just my nature. No one is BENEATH me but there are plenty that think they are above me and that is okay. I am not here to help those that already know it all or have plenty of money to go buy what they need or hire it done. I grew up dirt poor, I had my career, did well and now that I’m a senior on a fixed income, I’m dirt poor again. Would I change things if I could? Only if it would bring peace & harmony & a better life for everyone. I am thankful & blessed with what I have.

[Hippocrates_Garden]

The ‘squirrel” reference was pointed squarely at myself.

[Hippocrates_Garden]

I’ve also had a quizzical look when people would say one needed to plant the largest of a harvested potato, from a single plant to get larger potatoes. Umm. aren’t they genetically identical? clones? The more likely explanation for differing sizes is, one tuber was formed earlier and has had more time to grow than the others. I say eat the larger and plant the smaller.

[JerseyGiantChick]

Always planted the smallest, this year going to cut cure and plant the biggest. See what happens, curious what for potatoes will come.

[JerseyGiantChick]

Have fun, let us know your findings.

We just grow the planting potatoes, for produce and food. Takes to many years and is to unsure, let that work over to the farmers.