Guides
Seed Potatoes
Eyes, cutting, sprouting, and certified seed vs grocery potatoes.
Learn what planting stock is, why certification matters, and how to prepare whole tubers or cut pieces for reliable growth.
Start with this guide
What Is a Seed Potato?
Seed potatoes are tubers grown for planting — not true botanical seed — and certified stock is the safer start.
All seed potatoes guides
How to Cut Seed Potatoes
Aim for roughly 1½-inch pieces with one to three eyes, then let cut surfaces dry before planting.
6 min read
How to Grow Potatoes From Potato Eyes
Eyes are buds that become shoots — how to use them correctly without planting too-thin scraps.
5 min read
Can You Grow Potatoes From Store-Bought Potatoes?
Sometimes — but grocery tubers may be treated to stay dormant and can carry disease. Certified seed is safer.
6 min read
How Long Do Potatoes Take to Sprout?
Sprouting and emergence depend on soil temperature, seed condition, and whether you pre-sprout indoors.
5 min read
Related potato-growing topics
Continue through the parts of the growing season most closely connected to this topic.