Potatoes 土豆 马铃薯

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20251124 1600 Monday Hot Afternoon

That's our usual problem.  Asian do not really eat potatoes daily. 
We bought a sack, always cook a few and the rest get sprouted in the fridge.

🛑 1. Sprouted potatoes are unsafe to EAT

When a potato sprouts, it produces solanine, a natural toxin.

Eating sprouted or green potatoes can cause:

  • nausea

  • stomach pain

  • vomiting

  • diarrhea

So don’t eat them.  



✅ 2. Sprouted potatoes are PERFECT for planting

Even though they are unsafe to eat, they are 100% safe to grow.

Why?

  • The toxin (solanine) is only in the skin and sprouts,

  • It does not affect new potatoes produced later.

When planted:

  • The old potato shrivels and disappears underground.

  • The plant grows new, clean, non-toxic potatoes.

So sprouted = BAD for eating, GOOD for growing.

This type of Diameter 30 cm x Height 40 cm medium size "well-drained-Potato-grow-bag" comes with a transparent window that I can pull out one or two for cooking, and keep the rest growing as they like.

GROWING POTATOES

Potatoes prefer moist but not soggy soil.  

1 seed piece potato per bag shall give bigger potatoes with better airflow in the soil.

(A) put in 1 whole potato with sprouts (buds) in each bag, or,

(B) Cut into pieces and put separate bugs on different bag.  
IMPORTANT:
let the cut surface dry 12 - 24 hours before planting, this prevent rot.

Never dump all 6 potatoes into 1 bag, it will be overcrowded and will get many tiny potatoes.  soil will stay too wet and high chance get rot and fungus.

🌱 HOW TO PLANT (simple steps)

1. Fill bag ⅓ full with soil

(about 12–15 cm)

2. Place the potato on top, sprouts pointing up

keep 2 to 3 strong bugs, pinch off the small and weak bugs.

3. Cover with 5–8 cm soil

Not too deep.

4. When plant grows 15–20 cm,

Add more soil around stem (“hilling”) to encourage more potatoes.

Repeat until bag is full.

💧 WATERING

  • Keep soil slightly moist, not soaked.

  • Water deeply 2–3 times per week depending on rain.

🌞 LIGHT

Potatoes need 4–6 hours sunlight minimum.

More sun → bigger harvest.


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