Understanding True Potato Seeds

The acronym ‘TPS’ stands for True Potato Seeds. These are not your typical potato seed tubers that are commonly sold to gardeners. TPS comes from the botanical fruit of the potato plant; a fruit that resembles a cluster of berries or cherry tomatoes. Although they look very similar to green cherry tomatoes, it’s important to note that these berries are not edible. Growing potatoes from TPS is a way to obtain unique potato tubers that have never been seen before.

Steps to Grow Potatoes from TPS

Growing potatoes from True Potato Seeds is similar to growing tomatoes from seed. Here are the steps:

Step One: Acquire True Potato Seed of desired varieties. These seeds are small, so it’s important to handle them carefully.

Step Two: Start by planting your seeds in small pots about six weeks before you intend to move them outdoors. Within 7-15 days, you should see your potato seedlings sprouting. At this point, thin each pot to select the most vigorous seedling for the best growth.

Step Three: After approximately six weeks, it’s time to plant the seedlings outside. Make sure to space them at least ten inches apart, and bury them deep. I leave only about 2-3 inches of the plant sticking out of the soil.

Step Four: Care for your plants as you would typically care for potato tubers. Hill the plants to avoid greening of the tubers, apply mulch to retain soil moisture, or ensure regular watering throughout the growing season.

Step Five: At the end of the season, harvest the unique tubers produced from each plant. With patience and care, you can enjoy a rewarding potato harvest from your True Potato Seeds!