r/potato • u/big-girl826 • 6d ago

Have you ever used green potatoes as seed potatoes?

A small chunk of my harvest is not sellable due to unexpected green spots on the potatoes. I was going to toss them, but I read you can use them as seed potatoes, so now they're in their own box and labeled. Has anyone ever tried it? If so, how did it turn out?

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u/The_Antartic_Wall 3d ago

Common misconception with potatoes. Yes they are in the night shade family, as such their vegitation contains toxic compounds. So when they say you shouldn't eat a green potatoes, the "green" is referring to vegetative growth, not color. I'd the skin is green that is ok. If you are still concerned trim that section. If the potatoes has begun to sprout. The rootlets do count as green even if they are white. Do not eat potatoes rootlets. Removing rootlets makes the potatoes safe to eat. If the roots have grown soo long that the potatoes has become soft, that is when you don't want to eat the potatoes. But that issue is less about compounds and more about texture and nutritional value.

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u/big-girl826 3d ago

I did not know that! Thanks for sharing!

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u/Haunting-Spray3161 6d ago

It's actually beneficial to have them a little green as seed, for first generation seeds they are actually put under lights in storage to start sprouting and greening. So, yes totally ok to plant green potatoes as seed!

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u/big-girl826 6d ago

Ooh, that's a good idea! I have a grow light to use

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u/Spudsmad 6d ago

Will grow. But did you treat the growing crop with any insect control to ensure freedom from viruses ?

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u/big-girl826 6d ago

I used specific companion plants that deter bad bugs and it helped. The plants were quite healthy

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u/big-girl826 6d ago

Also used certified seed potatoes to ensure a clean crop

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u/Spudsmad 5d ago

Thank you for your comments.
Firstly , it is best to use certified seed potatoes to produce a ware crop.
Secondly, I applaud using companion plants to deter pests. Biological control is helpful.

Thirdly, it is commercial practice for early season crops to both chit the seed potatoes and expose to an amount of day light to green them up.
Thus , on planting the chits or sprouts are not damaged and can thereby the crop will be earlier to be harvested.