Many potatoes sold for fresh-market consumption have been treated with chemicals to prevent sprouting in storage. These chemicals will also prevent sprouting after planting. Another possibility is that the potatoes that you purchased in the store were from this year's crop and had not been stored properly to break the rest period. Potatoes have a rest period that must be broken before the buds will sprout. Cool temperatures or extremely warm temperatures can break the rest period and allow potatoes to sprout. Next time, plant certified seed potatoes that have been properly stored to induce sprouting.
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I used potatoes purchased at the grocery store as seed potatoes. They rotted without sprouting. Why?
Last Updated: February 27, 2008
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