Oh my goodness, that is so kind and helpful of you! I’m sure your friend really appreciates the generosity, i know i would! Ive got baby #2 on the way and i keep wondering how im gonna do this next year.. probably gonna have to downsize the garden just a wee tad 
“how much can we get done in the short window of opportunity between changing or naps or whatever the day and the kiddos have in mind” couldnt have said it better myself hahaha
You are a superstar for being such a cherishable friend!
Last year I had very limited success with my first attempt growing TPS after starting them indoors with a bad batch of potting mix and stunting them, then planting them out both small and late. Ultimately I ended up with a couple small tubers from two different plants that both flowered but not at the same time, so I didn’t get any pollination.
This year, I planted out the two best tubers from each of those plants along with a deep purple commercial variety I grew last year, and started another flat of 16 two inch cells indoors with better starting mix on March 1. I got decent germination and transplanted the best of those on May 1. They are still quite small but putting out fresh growth and in some cases are already working on a third set of true leaves. I direct seeded the remainder of my TPS into the gaps in the bed, but probably should have done that about a month ago. I’ll mulch around these once they’ve put on enough vertical growth and am looking forward to hopefully seeing a bit more success with first year plants and maybe some fruiting from second year plants.
Decided to pot up into 4-inch pots from the cardboard tray now that they are getting their true leaves. Here’s the biggest one: less than 1 inch tall and I only had one with roots longer than one inch. I wonder if I’ve stunted them! They’ve got three weeks to branch out before the 8-week timer is up.
My TPS are going! They look great. I may have started them a bit late, but cultivariable said to not start them too early; always a balance. More are still popping up. I can’ t wait to meet these potatoes.
When I try something new to me like this, I have low expectations (probably just emotional self-preservation) and then I’m extra pleased when they start popping up. It’s a good reminder that plants want to grow, they know what to do, I’m just here to observe and enjoy. Thanks to everyone who contributed seed to this mix, so grateful for your hard work.
That’s cool you’re on second year plants!
I’m also a little worried about damage done when I up potted the seedlings, so we’ll have to see what survives. Next year, I’ll do the celled tray like Josh or direct seed them in their own 4" pots.
I also have a few potato leaf tomatoes (possibly stupice, matina, or unknown) from seeds saved last year (volunteer at a place I was renting).
Very relatable to have low expectations for the sake of emotional self preservation hahaah. Then it is super satisfying when things start popping up! Tis a good reminder that plants really do wanna grow, eh? That made me chuckle so i had to say something 
Wow, your potato seedlings look beautiful! Mine seem super stunted, not sure why. I transplanted a few of the larger ones and they look stressed out by it. Hope yours make it successfully and healthily! I think next year i will attempt direct sowing. Im also debating just planting the rest of my current little seedlings straight in ground in trenches then hilling as they grow taller, but direct sowing into 4inch pots sounds easier as well. I am not a fan of up-potting.. call me impatient but i want those suckers in the ground right off the bat 
How are yours doing now after being transplanted? If it makes you feel any better, the recent winds have stressed out the uppotted seedlings. Im hoping they’ll recover once they’re in the ground (likely Friday or Saturday). But some have grown quite a bit!
They seem to be okay! I attempted to plant em in trenches a bit but that just means mulch continually falls in and i gotta brush it outta the way all of the time so the little seedlings get some light. Growing quite slowly but surely! I noticed the tps that i had up-potted b4 transplanting in the soil had formed some micro tubers so im hoping the ones that i just plopped straight in the ground from the initial tray will do better.
That’s good to hear that they’re still growing, definitely in the right direction! Just planted the Cultivariable blues and portly fingerlings next to the Magic Molly tubers for Part 1 of the potato breeding project. We’ll see how many survive after transplanting. I’ll show y’all the Going to Seed ones when they’re planted.
Your seedlings are looking good and green!
This is the first year ive ever planted certified seed potatoes, as i used to just grow storebought potatoes with excellent results until last years failure watching almost every single spud plant die. It was painful. Anywho! Almost all of my norland, yukon gold and german butterballs are starting to form flowers! So im hoping i will have tps from these varieties, as well as the tps seedlings i planted this year. Potato flowers sure are purtyful.
Weeks after potting up, I only have 7 surviving and one thriving. Trying to figure out where to plant them that won’t be next to grocery store potatoes or bad companions. But with TPS, you don’t really need a full foot of space, do you think? And I could just decide to plant them anywhere and say “well that’s my method” and see if they turn out all right.
“Well that’s my method” IS my method hahaha. I personally dont think a full foot of space is needed, considering tps harvest seems to average on the smaller side. I also tend to ignore spacing suggestions, pack things in and see what happens. When planting all of my seedlings into the ground i only gave em about 6-8" each but have them spaced diagonally. It is what i had available in a couple rows so ya gotta make do with ehat ya got! I assumed my survival rates wouldnt be the greatest so if any die the surrounding ones have a little more room to stretch and grow. I dont have high expectations for my first year attempting to grow tps but majority are still alive which is good! Just stagnant growth it seems.
I hope whatever you decide turns out satisfactory and thst ya dont lose anymore!
Your seed potatoes are looking great!
Glad to hear some survived. It’s not fun to watch them die off but the ones that have made it so far should hopefully stick around. survival of the fittest is one of my selection choices but it’s sad to see a favorite seedling not make it 
Not in order of photos: Here’s what’s left of the cultivariable blues (1/4) and portly fingerlings (5/9), going to seed/cultivariable purples (the happiest) and going to seed pinks. Plus the Magic Molly and German butter ball seed potatoes 
Also hoping for TPS berries from these seed potato varieties and looking to cross Magic Molly w some seedlings.
That potato plant looks soo beautiful! I love the purple 
Thank you! It is nice to see them all flower. Im hoping they will all cross and go to seed so i can try tps again next year for sure! So far my tps this year are still super tiny.. but it is nice to see everyone elses progress 
