Potato Seeds or Seed Potatoes?

http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/wtrsow/2002053844010986.html

lists that you can start potatoes from actual seeds.

Is that true? I've found 'seed potatoes', and see them sprouting in my drawer while I wait for them to sprout enough to plant. But... seeds?

Do they really exist? Do people collect them? Are they worth it?

-Sev

I would think they would make seeds, but I've yet to see any listed for sale nor have I heard of anyone actually growing potatoes from seeds rather than seed potatoes. Could be, though.

Potato breeders grow plants from seed, but gardeners rarely do.

Why not?

Sevi. I have tried them and in my opinion not worth it.But there are several cultivars and I am sure some are better than others. The one I tried was one of the first on the market from a now extinct company. Zoluska is vended as a white potato, 3x 4 inch, 110 days from transplant. ( You start these critters like you do tomatoes). This one is vended by Twilley, http://www.twilleyseed.com/ but there are others out there.

8o

They have some really nifty seeds! Thanks for the link. I'll have to check out potato seeds, it sounds really funny - but may be worth it, for winter storage of seeds, etc. Can't know for sure if I don't try it. :)

-Sev

if the potatoes are hybridized, you wouldn't get your cultivar true to seed. the only ones to breed true would be a species. so you might have all shapes, sizes, colors and whatever.
i don't even know if they sell species potatoes. i would say the modern hybrids have been bred for size (who would want a marble-sized potato)?, and for various positive characteristics such as uniformity, taste, storage etc etc.

The cultivars that are developed to grow from seed, grow true at least for the first year. Whether you can save seed I don't know, The one I grew ( Pioneer if I remember correctly) was uniform, and tennis ball size. Yield was poor and taste was gosh awful. It blossomed but did not set seed pods. BUT Note. These are not the same cultivars as are regular Irish potatoes. They are still a novelty, but researchers have been busy. It successful, potatoes from seed would eliminate many of the transportation and disease problems associated with tubers.

*ponder* Hum. Flavor that bad wouldn't be good, since I'm growing for food. They're not irish spud type potatoes? That's what I'm wanting. Even with the weird cultivars, I've just never heard of them in seed form. I'd love to find (breed?) a variety that would work. Maybe that should be one of my big projects - to grow a potato that will grow _from seed_ and come true - and still be a relatively good size and flavor.

I wonder if it's even possible... sounds like a fun project, anyway :)

-Sev

here ya go: http://www.potatonews.com/personalities/personalities_details.asp?id=39

Twilley does not normally sell something just to be selling it and they don't hype much. I would expect the description of Zoluska to be accurate. They don't mention taste. However some vegetatively propagated cultivars taste bad under certain conditions, the old Green Mountain comes to mind. And yes, Sevi, they are "Irish spud type" potatoes, just special cultivars that are designed to bypass vegetative propagation.

... Hum. I wonder if they'd Wintersow well. Ah well, will at least find out if I can grow them to be tasty. :)

-Sev

I would not think so. Remember the standard procedure is to start them like tomatoes or eggplants and transplant them.

Thanks, Len - very interesting read. I never knew potato-collecting could be so dangerous!

I'm impressed. And potatoes are definitely weird.

Weird is fun.

-Sev

Thanks for the info, Farmerdill. I won't WS them then - will set them up when I get them alongside my other nightshades, and see how they fare.

Tried russet mashed potatoes on the baby today. He didn't like them. I think I spoiled him by giving him sweet potatoes first! *laugh* He lunges for those!

-Sev