potato experiment

[sophiegray]

Hi. I'm just a homeschooling mom teaching my son some basic botany. We did the potato experiment. After a number of weeks, some leaves grows from the eyes, But no roots was formed. I wonder what went wrong, or I need to wait more? Thanks

[studiot]

 

Hi. I'm just a homeschooling mom teaching my son some basic botany.

 

Well done you.

 

The process you are looking at is called chitting and relies on light to form the shoots.

Potatoes don't grow roots in the light, they grow shoots. (Observation No 1)

If the shoots are white there was not enough light.

Most if not all the shoots are at one end, often more blunted / less pointy end. This is called the rose end.(Observation no 2).

 

The roots will start to form in the dark, once planted.

Obviously you plant the potato with the shoots pointing up.

 

The potato contains enough food and mositure to start the growth going so roots are not needed initially. (conclusion no 1)

 

[sophiegray]

Thanks for your reply. Can I now plant it in soil? What can I expect after planting it in soil? Thanks

[studiot]

 

What can I expect after planting it in soil?

 

 

Cutworms and slugs having a party?

 

Plant it rose end up about 4 inches (100mm) down and cover with soil.

Traditionally this is done at Easter in the south of the UK.

(I did mine about 2 weeks ago)

 

My shoots have not yet started to show but I expect them soon.

 

When the shoots grow to about 4 inches high cover with earth, leaving just the green tip showing.

This is called earthing up.

Keep doing this until your mound is about a foot of soil high.

 

This is why potatos are known as a cleaning crop - you have to dig several times.

 

Your potato looks like what are called maincrop rather than an early or new variety so harvest in July/August.

Edited April 24, 2016 by studiot