Article - Growing Potatoes From Seed

[TWP]

This could be a life saver in several EOTW scenarios so read carefully.

Most potatoes are grown from "starts" which are the actual tuber sprouts,  This has several Disadvantages, including the real problem of not being able to keep the tuber for more than one season.  The seeds will keep for at least a couple of seasons.

https://survivalblog.com/growing-potatoes-true-potato-seeds-tps-shepherdfarmergeek/

Quoting from the article:

"With potato varieties that set seed (most don’t), a person not only gets tubers to eat and propagate but seeds as well. You can grow more potatoes from either or both. The seeds at least give the prepper a much more reliable and protected source for potato planting in the spring, especially if you have had to bug out! Note that when potatoes are grown from tubers, their productivity slowly decreases from year to year to a baseline. But potatoes that are grown from seed are at their most productive level. That is a big advantage."

In the article is a link to a US producer of potato seeds:

http://garden.lofthouse.com/index.phtml

Seed supplies are limited and subject to possible future restrictions such as seed patents...  Do some research and I would advise contacting the US supplier linked above.

DO NOTE the recommendation in the article about HOW to start and transplant seeds.  It is NOT as simple as sticking the seed in your garden soil and waiting.

[230gr]

Looked into this some years ago and it is not really practical, IMO. First year plants must be started in the house like tomatoes but only produce marble size tubers the 1st year. These must be wintered over (in the root cellar) and replanted the second year for eating size potatoes which can be replanted the next year. A lot of extra work and risk for no real gain. Also, some cultivars do bloom and fruit forming viable seeds if your growing season is long enough. If you had several cultivars to cross pollinate, you might even get some that will produce potatoes worth eating. 

[TWP]

230gr

The scenario where potato seeds have an advantage is where your crop fails, for any number of reasons.  The tubers don't keep for more than a season.  The seeds will make it possible to replant for the next season.  The seeds, if properly stored, will be viable for at least two years, perhaps more.

I agree that the first crop is small and requires that the plants be freeze protected over the winter.

There is no reason one could not plant both tuber and seed.  That gives you larger potatoes in the first season and insurance in case of crop loss.