Potatoes from true seed using dried seed balls

General Discussions
1

I’m looking into growing potatoes from true seed because I haven’t had much luck growing from seed potatoes. I found some on grandtetonorganics but I’m not sure if I should try to find grex seeds and/or something closer to my area (SE NC). Any tips on how to get off to a good start?

He also offers this process but is this correct? Seems like the blender would destroy the seeds especially when water is added.

PUT YOUR DRIED SEED BALLS IN A BLENDER AND ADD ABOUT 2 PINTS OF WATER. TURN THE BLENDER ON HIGH FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS. TURN OFF THE BLENDER AND LET THE PULP AND THE SEEDS BEGIN TO SEPARATE, IF YOU SEE THAT THERE ARE STILL LARGER PIECES OF THE SEED BALLS INTACT THEN TURN THE BLENDER BACK ON FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS MORE. WAIT ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND MOST OF THE CHAFF WILL COME TO THE TOP OF THE WATER AND THE SEEDS AND HEAVIER MATERIAL WILL SINK TO THE BOTTOM.

AT THAT POINT YOU CAN GENTLY POUR THE WATER OUT AND MOST OF THE CHAFF WILL COME OFF WITH THE WATER. WHEN ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF SEEDS AND RESIDUE REMAIN IN THE BLENDER ADD A LITTLE CLEAN WATER AND POUR EVERY THING OUT TOGETHER ON SOME PAPER TOWELS.

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2

This looks like a good grex mix for beginners:

Looks like they recommend starting indoors but could they be planted in the fall for a spring harvest or after the last frost?

Planting

Sow true potato seeds six to eight weeks before your last frost (at the earliest) or intended date for planting out. Press the seeds into the surface of your potting soil and cover by about 1/8 of an inch.
Water thoroughly once with room temperature water and do not water again until the soil begins to dry out. Keep the temperature at about 65° F constant or alternate between 65° F day and 55° F night.
Under the recommended conditions, expect to seed the first seedlings emerge in 7 to 10 days.

Keep seedlings under strong lights for 14 to 16 hours per day.
When seedlings are 4-6 inches tall harden off and then transplant to final location.

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3

Overseeding seems to be critical in my experience. I sowed probably somewhere between 30 to 50 of the cultivariable mix you linked and probably 15 sprouted and then started dropping off. I’m down to 1 good specimen. Still enjoying it and i still have at least half that seed pack for next year

4

Kinda agree with overseeding. The consequence is that we need lots of seeds. Therefore, producing seeds is going to be necessary!

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