You can grow potatoes indoors year-round if the room has a grow light or window that faces direct sunlight. Potatoes are a nutrient-rich food and once harvested they can be stored for a long time.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Growing Potato Sprouts
Step 1. Buy potato seeds that have many buds
The buds are the tiny dots on the potato skin that can sprout. One potato that has 6 or 7 buds can produce 900 grams of potatoes. If you want to get more yields than that, buy at least 5 potato seeds.
Step 2. Scrub the potatoes to get rid of the dirt
Use a vegetable brush and scrub each potato under running water. If you're not planting organic potatoes, this process can also remove pesticide residue.
Step 3. Pour the water into a wide-mouthed glass
The mouth of the glass should be wide enough to support a potato pierced with a toothpick.
Step 4. Cut the potatoes in half
When cutting, be careful not to hit the eye of the potato shoots as this is where they will sprout. You may have to cut a large potato into quarters to allow it to fit into the glass.
Step 5. Insert toothpicks on the right and left sides of the potato, about 1/4 the length of the toothpick
Try to stick a toothpick halfway between the top of the potato and the edge of the slice.
Step 6. Place the potatoes on top of the glass
Let the toothpick hang over the rim of the glass. Reposition the toothpick if the potato is not evenly placed on the rim of the glass. Make sure the buds are submerged in water. Otherwise, the buds will not sprout.
Step 7. Place the glass in a place that gets a lot of sunlight, such as on the edge of a south-facing window
You can also place the glass under a plant lamp.
Step 8. If the water in the glass turns cloudy, replace it with new water
If necessary, add water to keep the buds submerged.
Step 9. When the potato roots begin to appear, transfer the potatoes to a container
Most potatoes take a week to start sprouting.
Method 2 of 2: Planting Sprouted Potatoes
Step 1. Choose a tall pot that has several drainage holes
If you're not using a new pot, make sure you wash it thoroughly before you start planting.
Step 2. Put some pebbles or small rocks at the bottom of the pot to help the water drainage process
Step 3. Fill 2/3 of the pot with potting soil
You will need to add soil several times as the plant gets bigger. So, at this stage do not fill the pot too full.
Step 4. Put the potatoes in the pot with the roots down, leaving about 15 cm between each potato
Don't put all the potatoes on the rim of the pot.
Step 5. Cover the potatoes with soil 5 to 7.5 cm high
Step 6. Water the potatoes with plenty of water
Step 7. When the plant is about 15 cm above the surface of the pot, add more soil
When the potato vines reach the top of the pot, add soil to create a mound around the potato plant.
Step 8. Potatoes are ready to be harvested when small tubers are visible at the roots
The tubers are inedible because sunlight causes the potatoes to produce toxins, but the appearance of the tubers is a sign that the potatoes buried in the soil are ready to be harvested:
- Dig up the soil slowly with a small shovel.
- Remove the potatoes from the ground.
- Wash potatoes before cooking or eating them.
Tips
- Before planting potatoes, add organic compost to add nutrients to the potting soil.
- Water your potato plant regularly to keep the soil moist, but not soggy.
- If you use plant lights, keep them on for at least 10 hours per day. As much as possible imitate the conditions outside the room.
- You can continue to harvest potatoes by planting potato seedlings indoors, every 3 or four weeks.
Warning
- Plant pests only attack potatoes grown outdoors. Indoor potato plants may be infected with aphids, but you can get rid of them by spraying dish soap on the potato leaves. To make it, mix a few drops of dish soap with water.
- If you are growing potatoes purchased from a grocery store, make sure you wash them thoroughly before planting them. Potatoes shipped to the store contain substances that prevent growth and if you don't wash them thoroughly, they won't germinate.
- Store your harvested potatoes in a cool, dark place. Otherwise, the potatoes will rot quickly. If you don't have a cellar, you can store it on a vegetable rack in the refrigerator.
