Households are being urged never to throw away old potatoes, as they serve a vital purpose in the garden. One gardener has shared a clever method for using those sprouted spuds to grow new crops.
Why Keep Old Potatoes?
If you have old potatoes at home, listen up: they can be replanted to produce a fresh batch. Gardening is labour-intensive but rewarding, and with summer in full swing, keeping your garden in top condition helps plants thrive. Leftover potatoes from last year's harvest can be used instead of thrown away.
The Gardener's Method
On TikTok, a gardener known as Planted in the Garden, with 1.3 million followers, demonstrated the technique. He placed old sprouted potatoes in a pot of soil, covered them with dried hay, and laid chicken wire on top to deter squirrels. Drip irrigation kept the soil moist, and the pot was moved to a shaded spot. In the video, the potatoes grew in clusters, yielding a fresh batch.
In his caption, he explained: "Saved potatoes from last year's harvest. Kept them in a cool dark place all winter. By spring, they sprouted on their own."
Step-by-Step Planting Guide
- 10-gallon container, soil 3/4 full
- One sprouted potato in the centre
- Topped off with compost
- Dried hay to hold moisture
- Chicken wire cut to fit, pegged down to keep squirrels out
- Drip irrigation for consistent watering
- Handful of compost once a month
- Harvest when leaves turn yellow and die back
Benefits of Planting Old Potatoes
Planting old, sprouted, and wrinkly potatoes maximises your crop. Simply bury the potato or cut it into pieces with sprouts facing upward.
How to Resprout Old Potatoes
First, wash and prep the potatoes. For store-bought spuds, rinse in cold water to remove growth inhibitors. Organic potatoes are best, as conventional ones may be sprayed to prevent sprouting.
Next, place potatoes in a shallow dish, cardboard box, or deli cup. Store in a cool, dark, frost-free area for about two weeks to encourage "eyes" (dormant stem buds) to emerge.
Once eyes appear, move potatoes to a spot with indirect light for 6-8 hours daily. This keeps sprouts short, stout, and green. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. As green stems emerge, heap additional soil or hay around the plant base. Expect a fresh harvest in roughly 60 to 120 days.
