Potato sprouts --how to keep until spring

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My potatoes that we are still eating from harvest last year are sprouting nicely. I cut off these beautiful sprouts when I peel them for mashed taters. But I just can't throw them away, can I? I know that sometimes they'll grow in the compost..... but can I put them in a bag, or in the freezer until it's time to plant?

Is it just a waste anyway? Will they sprout like seed potatoes? ARE they seed potatoes?

Help!

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), January 17, 2002

Answers

they CAN sprout and grow. But just push them off the taters for now,, and when it gets closer to planting time, let some start again,,wont hurt anything

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 17, 2002.

I agree with Stan...

-- Kristean Thompson (pigalena_babe@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002.

Stan--are you saying to just throw away the ones I peel away now--and then start fresh with the potatoes I peel in the future?

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), January 18, 2002.

Ann, we toss them in the compost. We keep some potatoes put aside in the root cellar for planting in the spring. The sprouts on those can be as long as 2-3 feet come May! We plant the whole thing, sprouts and potatoe. Been doing this the past couple years and they grow well - not as heavy a producer as seed potatoes, but plenty enough to stock us up for the season! You may want to check out the thread from 1/15 about potatoes. Talks about seed potatoes.

-- Michelle in NM (naychurs_way@hotmail.com), January 18, 2002.

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