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How Long Does It Take for Store Bought Potatoes to Sprout

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Have you ever wondered how your store bought potatoes are harvested without any extra care? It is surprising how they can grow on their own!

But do you think that if they can grow on their own so quickly, how productive it might be when we give them special attention?

Sounds intriguing, don’t you think?

In today’s article, we’ll see how long does it take for store bought potatoes to sprout and how to grow potatoes from store bought potatoes.

So, without wasting further time, let’s jump straight into it.

How Long Does it Take for Store Bought Potatoes to Sprout?

Typically, it takes four to eight weeks for most store bought potatoes to sprout.

However, this might not always be the case. There are exceptions too. As a result, the harvest time for some of them may vary greatly.

Let’s have a chill pill and look at the inside-out section below to know more about these potatoes.

Happy potato—how long does it take for store bought potatoes to sprout
How long does it take for store bought potatoes to sprout? – Image via Łukasz Rawa.

How to Grow Potatoes from Store Bought Potatoes?

As you can see, there are literally no reasons not to grow store bought potatoes. These potatoes may sprout quickly, but we also need to know when potatoes go bad.

Growing potatoes is not a hassle, we promise you. Follow these steps, and you will end up with a big potato garden too.

Step 1: Let Potatoes Sprout

First of all,

  • Leave all the store bought potatoes in a nice place full of air and sunlight.
  • This will help the chemical reactions to work on the surface of the potatoes.
  • Be prepared to keep them in a dry place for up to 8 weeks.
  • As it is enough time for the potatoes to sprout, you may see some shoots emerging.

That is our cue to move to the next step.

Step 2: Cut the Potatoes

Cutting the potatoes in half is a great measure to increase your production. Still, this is not all. There’s more to it.

After cutting them, it’s time to keep them in the air. Not only does it help to increase the yield of potatoes, but it also oozes all the stress of rotting.

Step 3: Arrange the Soil

Now,

  • Take a large container or gallon and put moist soil down six to seven inches.
  • Make sure your container has drainage holes for water to pass out.
  • You also have to keep close vigilance to the soil quality.
  • We highly recommend you have a fresh pot of soil mixed with some old compost.
  • This is hugely beneficial for preventing the excessive dampness of the soil.

After you are done with the soil, move on to the next step.

Step 4: Plant Them Down

Now it’s the major action time—the plantation period.

This is relatively easy as you just need to place the potatoes scarcely into the soil. Moreover, you should also follow some techniques that improve the growth of potatoes.

Most importantly, keep a minimum of four inches gap between each potato and place their shoots upwards.

Covering the potatoes again with one or two inches is a good notion.

Step 5: Take Extra Care

A common proverb goes like this:

“You reap what you sow.”

It is indeed true in this case.

  • Your potato vines won’t survive a day without your love and care.
  • For their effective growth, firstly, please keep them in a warm place where they can get at least 6 hours of sunlight.
  • Secondly, water your plants daily while preventing waterlogging.
  • Lastly, by adding fertilizer bi-monthly, you can expect your potatoes to harvest within 15 weeks.

That would be all.

Related Article: How Long Does It Take To Grow Potatoes? This is The Truth Exposed!

FAQs

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.

Do Potatoes Need to Sprout Before Planting?

Yes, potatoes need to sprout before planting.

Otherwise, they will not grow even if you care and wait more months.

How Do You Get Store Bought Potatoes to Sprout?

Keeping the potatoes in a cool area in full brightness can trigger the growth of sprouts on them.

You may even wait for weeks to see them growing.

Is It Better to Cut Potatoes Before Planting?

We suggest cutting the potatoes in half before planting.

This catalyzes the growth of the plants as well as prevents them from rotting.

Undoubtedly, that is responsible for increased yield.

Potato harvest—how long does it take for store bought potatoes to sprout
How long does it take for store bought potatoes to sprout? – Image via Markus Spiske.

Conclusion

Well, that’s it, guys.

Hope you enjoyed this segment and finally got the answer to how long does it take for store bought potatoes to sprout.

Reading this article would surely vanish all your problems with potato vines. From sprouting to planting, we have got your back.

If you find it helpful, don’t forget to share it. Have a wonderful day! Take care.

Regards,
Happy planting!