If you’ve ever opened your pantry and found old potatoes staring back at you with those creepy little sprouts, don’t throw ‘em out. That’s the start of free food right there. That’s how I first learned how to grow potatoes from eyes, and trust me, it wasn’t pretty. My wife still laughs about the first batch I planted upside down.
I’ve been homesteading over ten years now, growing food in small backyards, front lawns, containers, and even a couple raised beds I built out of scrap wood. Potatoes are one of the easiest things you can grow, but they can also trick you if you don’t respect ‘em. I’ve messed up enough times that now I’ve got a system that works for me, whether I’m planting in an urban space or my bigger backyard garden. Let me walk you through it, stories and all.
The First Time I Screwed It Up
I’ll tell you right off: the first time I tried planting potatoes from eyes, I didn’t even cut them. Just dug a hole, tossed the whole thing in, and called it a day. Couple weeks later I had a soggy mess underground and nothing worth eating.
Lesson learned: potatoes ain’t complicated, but you gotta do a few simple things right. Like cutting the spuds, letting them dry, giving them decent soil, and most important planting those eyes facing up (yep, that matters).
So, What Does “Potato Eyes” Mean Anyway?
If you’re new to this, potato “eyes” are just those little bumps or sprouts you see on old potatoes. Each eye can grow into a whole new plant. That’s why one potato can turn into a basket full if you plant it right.
Back in the day, I thought eyes were bad like the potato was ruined. Now, when I see eyes, I see food security. On a homestead, nothing wasted if you can help it.
Step One: Picking the Right Potato
Here’s the thing: you can grow potatoes from grocery store spuds, but sometimes they’re sprayed with stuff to stop sprouting. I’ve had mixed results. If you wanna be safe, buy “seed potatoes” from a garden shop or co-op. They’re just regular potatoes but guaranteed to sprout strong.
But honestly? Half the time I just use whatever’s in my kitchen. My grandma used to say, “If it wants to grow, let it.” And she was right more often than not.
Cutting and Curing (Don’t Skip This Part)
Here’s where I messed up the second time. I got excited, cut the potatoes into little chunks, and planted them straight away. Bad move. They rotted.
What you should do is cut your potato into pieces, making sure each chunk has at least one good eye. Then, lay those pieces out on a tray or paper towel for a day or two. They’ll dry out a bit and form a “skin” over the cut. That skin protects them from rotting in the soil.
It feels silly waiting, but trust me, it’s worth it. One time I was impatient, planted too soon, and lost half my crop. My chickens were happy though, they got the mushy leftovers.
Where to Plant: Buckets, Beds, or Straight in the Dirt?
I’ve tried it all.
- In the ground: Best if you’ve got space and decent soil. My backyard soil is kinda clay, so I had to mix in compost.
- In raised beds: Probably my favorite way. Easier to dig later, and I can control the soil.
- In buckets or trash cans: Perfect if you’re in the city. I once grew 20 pounds of potatoes in a black trash can behind my garage.
Whatever you choose, just make sure there’s good drainage. Potatoes hate sitting in water.
Planting Time: How Deep and How Far Apart?
Here’s my usual method:
- Dig a trench or hole about 4 or 6 inches deep.
- Place the potato piece eye-side up.
- Space them about a foot apart.
Then cover them with soil. That’s it. Don’t overthink it.
Funny story: I once planted a whole row, only to realize I put them all eye-side down. Still got a few potatoes, but way smaller. Felt like feeding marbles to the family.
The Hilling Trick That Changes Everything
This is where beginners usually mess up. When the plants start growing, you don’t just leave them. You gotta “hill” them. That means piling soil or straw around the base of the plants as they grow taller.
Why? Because potatoes form along the stem. The more you cover, the more room they have to make spuds. Think of it like giving them extra floors to grow on.
I use whatever I got sometimes compost, sometimes just dirt. I’ve even used grass clippings (though that can bring weeds).
Watering Without Drowning
Potatoes like steady water, not floods. My rule of thumb: if the soil feels dry a couple inches down, water. Otherwise, leave it.
One summer I got lazy, forgot to water during a heat wave. Dug up the harvest later and got tiny little potatoes, like ping pong balls. We still ate ‘em, but the kids called them “baby taters.” Lesson learned keep ‘em watered.
Pests and Problems I’ve Dealt With
Oh boy. Potatoes aren’t pest-proof. Here’s what I’ve fought:
- Colorado potato beetles: Little orange jerks that chew the leaves. I just pick ‘em off by hand and drop them in soapy water.
- Blight: Nasty fungus that can wipe out a crop. Happened once when I planted in a spot that stayed too damp. Now I rotate where I plant and make sure there’s airflow.
- Wireworms: Found ‘em tunneling through my spuds. Not much fun. Chickens helped clean ‘em out.
Homesteading teaches you real quick: don’t expect perfection. Just do your best, share some with the bugs, and keep going.
Harvest Time: The Best Part
You’ll know it’s time when the plants start yellowing and falling over. That’s when the potatoes are ready. I wait a week or so after the tops die back, then dig carefully with a fork or even my hands.
And lemme tell you there’s nothing like finding a big fat potato underground. It feels like treasure hunting. My kids used to race each other to see who could find the biggest one.
Storing the Harvest
Here’s another place I messed up. First year, I washed all my potatoes and stored them in a warm closet. Two weeks later, half were rotten.
Now I know better:
- Don’t wash them, just brush off dirt.
- Store in a cool, dark place.
- Lay them out to “cure” for a week before bagging.
Last winter, I stored about 60 pounds in my basement and they lasted until spring.
Real Quick: My Top 3 Potato Growing Lessons
- Don’t plant in soggy soil. They’ll rot.
- Hill them up, or you’ll get way fewer potatoes.
- Be patient. If you dig too early, you’ll get baby spuds.
Mini FAQ (Stuff Folks Always Ask Me)
Q: Can I grow potatoes in winter?
A: If you’ve got a greenhouse, maybe. I tried once in the garage with grow lights and it was a waste of time. Best to stick to spring planting.
Q: Do I really need seed potatoes?
A: Not always. I’ve grown plenty from grocery store spuds. Just know it’s hit or miss.
Q: How many potatoes from one piece?
A: Depends, but I usually get about 5 or 10 potatoes from one chunk. Sometimes more if the season’s good.
Why Growing Potatoes from Eyes Matters for Homesteading
For me, potatoes are more than just food. They’re security. When times are tight, you can feed a family on potatoes and not starve. They store well, they grow in buckets or fields, and they don’t need fancy tools.
Learning how to grow potatoes from eyes was one of the first real homesteading skills I picked up, and even though I’ve screwed up along the way, it’s still one of the most rewarding things I do every year.
So if you’ve got a sprouted potato on your counter right now don’t toss it. Stick it in some dirt and see what happens. Worst case, you lose one potato. Best case, you get a whole basket.
And hey, if you get stuck, just ask. I mess up too, but I’ll always share what I learned.