dug out potatos from compost, how can I use them?

[krizzanne]

I went to turn over the compost pile (which looks like it has leaves/grass/apples that have been piling up for years) and the first pitchfork full unearthed a batch of potatos! it's strange, they were not attached to any plant that I could see. But they were not rotted, most of them are just starting to sprout. There are about 12 potatoes ranging from tiny to baked size.

My question is: can I use these to replant and grow potatos? I am starting a garden club for 15 home-educated kids, and we need all the free plants we can get, if I can use them it would be so cool. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[Cutecumber]

As long as they appear healthy you could choose any tubers the size of a hens egg and put each in a pot of compost. If you put them singly in pots of about 5-7 inches diameter and water a little, they should begin to grow and you can plant them out in the soil once it warms up (end of March is a good bet). Don't use very large pots as it will be very difficult to get the young potato plant out and into the ground without the whole thing collapsing. Alternatively, place the tubers somewhere light, cool and dry and let them sprout a bit more on their own until planting time.

If you fancy growing them in large containers rather than the ground, then it's even easier - put three or four inches of compost in the bottom of an empty compost bag (put a few bit of old pot or stones in and make sure there are holes in the bottom for drainage). Place four tubers on this layer of compost, and then add another few inches of compost. All being well, the potatoes will sprout and the green tops will push through the compost. You continue to fill the bag to the top as their stems grow upwards. The bags aren't pretty but you can get great, clean crops this way.

Remember, always keep potatoes frost-free - they will die if the foliage gets frosted.

It's a bit of a gamble as you don't know what the potatoes are, but it's worth a go for an experiment. Try a few and see what happens.

Good luck.