Would you like to enjoy seeing the seeds grow in detail and monitor all the changes? This is really amazing! But how to do this while the plants grow in the soil and only the outer part is seen? Growing potatoes in water give you a wonderful opportunity to see the step-by-step development of seeds to form a plant.
Come with us to go through this interesting experience and see how it will go in detail. Get ready and prepare your tools to learn how to plant red potatoes in water from the first step to harvest.
How To Grow Red Potatoes In Water?
Here are the 5 main steps that you need to follow to grow red potatoes successfully in water:
- Selecting the right potato variety.
- Preparing The Potatoes For Water Growth.
- Planting The Red Potatoes In Water.
- Caring For The Red Potatoes During Growth.
- Transfer The Potatoes To The Soil.
I don’t like long introduction, so let’s jump into the details:
I. Selecting The Right Variety Of Red Potatoes For Water Growth
Generally, the characteristics of red potatoes that will grow in water do not differ from the characteristics of potatoes that grow in soil. Potatoes grown in the water should be of good quality and disease-free resistant and have high yield potential.
Buy potato seeds from the nursery or garden store, where they are reliable and selected. They have strong genetics for high production and disease resistance. It is not recommended to use regular potatoes purchased from the vegetable store. They have been treated with germination inhibitors.
Recommendations For Some Suitable Varieties Of Red Potatoes For Water Growth
Here are the top 2 varieties that recommend for growing in water:
Reddale
It is characterized by a high yield of large, round, uniform, and flat potatoes. Its skin is red and its flesh is white and it has many good eating properties, as it can be cooked in a variety of ways. It is great for baking. [1]
Norland
Oval to round, uniform, slightly flat potatoes, with smooth, slightly reddish skin. Medium yield, suitable for boiling, frying, and salads.
II. Preparing The Red Potatoes For Water Growth
For the best result and to speed up the growth process, leave the seed potatoes in a warm place for two weeks before planting them. You can place them on a counter near a sunny window.
Potatoes grow quickly and do well when kept in bright light at around 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Related Article: Get Your Hands Dirty: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Red Potatoes at Home and Indoors.
The Process Of Cutting The Seed Potatoes
It is preferable to grow potatoes without cutting, but if they are large in size that exceeds a golf ball, it is preferable to cut them so that they can feed well. Cut the potatoes with a sharp and sterilized knife into pieces that contain two or three Germination eyes.
Allowing Small Pieces To Dry Before Planting
Do not plant potatoes immediately after cutting. but leave them for three days to a week until they harden and dry well and get rid of the sticky substance that forms on them after cutting.
Note: Keep the potatoes in a warm place, about 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
III. Planting The Red Potatoes In Water
Finally, we’re entering the fun part of the whole process. You need to prepare your equipment and follow the below step-by-step guide:
The Equipment Required For Planting Red Potatoes
In addition to your seed potatoes, you need these three:
- Water
- Clear glass cup
- 4 Toothpicks
The Process Of Planting The Cut-Seed Potatoes In The Water
Plant one red potato in a cup with the following steps:
- Fill a cup with tap water. So that the water reaches half of it.
- Choose potatoes of a small diameter, suitable for the size of the cup.
- Insert four toothpicks into the middle of the potato, spaced roughly evenly across the diameter of the potato.
- Put the potatoes into the cup so that only the bottom third of it is in the water.
- Hold the potato firmly so that it does not fall into the water, with toothpicks supporting it on the edge.
Tips For Maintaining The Water Level
Continue to monitor the level and cleanliness of the water. Change the water if you find it cloudy, and add more water as needed. The water should not cover more than half of the potatoes. taking into account that the sprouts are pointing up in the part that is not in contact with the water. Avoid getting the buds wet with water. As this leads to infection with potato blight.
It is not preferable to add fertilizers to the water of potato growth, as it receives nourishment naturally and is balanced from the submerged part of it, where the submerged part absorbs water and acts as a main food source for the growing plant.
Providing Sufficient Light To The Potatoes During The Growth
You should place your potato cup in an area that receives about six to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Sunlight is a major factor in the growth and development of buds.
IV. Caring For The Red Potatoes During Growth
Caring is one the most important step of the whole process. Here are some tips that you need to keep in mind:
The Importance Of Monitoring The Water Level
Monitoring the water level is very important, as it should not rise above a third or half of the potato, in order to ensure that the developing buds are not exposed to moisture or touching the water. because this exposes them to mold and blight. Only a third of the potatoes should be in the water to act as a food source.
The Necessary Care Required For Red Potatoes During The Growth Period
As we mentioned, it does not require you to add nutrients to the water, you only have to monitor the water and change it so that it becomes cloudy and keep its level in the middle of the potatoes. Follow the growth of the sprouts, which are expected to grow within two weeks.
If you want to continue growing the potatoes to get full plants and get a decent crop, You can’t keep planting potatoes in water, but you have to transfer them to real soil to continue growing effectively.
V. Transfer The Potatoes To The Soil
Prepare a container and drill holes in it to create drainage holes for the soil. Gently extract them from the water so as not to scratch the developing buds.
Planting Potatoes In The Soil
Prepare the soil by mixing it with compost and dampening it with water. Put about 4 cm of soil into the container, then place the potatoes about 1 square foot apart, then cover them with 3 cm of soil.
You can read more about containers in our guide to growing Red potatoes in buckets and containers and pots.
Caring For Red Potatoes During The Growth In The Soil
Water the potatoes only when the top layer of soil becomes dry. Potatoes need about 1 to 2 inches per week. Also, Feed the soil with fertilizer. You can add fertilizer once a month, meaning two or three times during the growing season, as it will mature within 100 days.
Tips For Preventing And Treating Any Diseases Or Pests That May Affect The Potatoes
Preventing diseases is something you need to care about. It’s recommended to call a specialist if you noticed that there any signs of infection in your plant. Also, here is a video that explains the different types of diseases and pests that affect red potatoes and how to prevent them:
VI. Harvesting The Red Potatoes Grown In Water
Finally, the moment that you’ve been all waiting for. The best time to harvest your red potatoes is when the leaves turn yellow. Gently dig and track and collect the potatoes.
Tips For Storing The Harvested Potatoes
Store potatoes in a moist place at a temperature of 45 to 50 Fahrenheit so as not to lose their water content, because potatoes contain a large percentage of water that they can lose and become dry and not good for eating if placed in a hot or dry place.
