this post was submitted on 19 Oct 2025
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Gardening
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God damn this is good to know. So on the specifics on potatoes: I was always under the impression a potato is just grown from more potatoes. In this case you'd need to grow it from a seed? Are there potato seeds??? I need to google this.
Potatoes are grown from both seed and tubers.
Plant breeders develop new varieties from true seed. These plants are in the diploid state. They then convert them to the tetraploid state by application of colchicine. After conversion they are only replicated via tubers.
The first generation is completed in the laboratory by cell culture. This ensures the starting point is free from diseases. Then they go to small sterilized plots where a few potatoes become more. This process repeats for several years increasing in quantity until the first pre-commercial potatoes are grown. During this time all fields are carefully inspected for diseases and contaminated productions are sold for consomption.
The potatoes are finally sent out to growers for commercial production. That's where they pick up all the lovely diseases and then are sent to the store.
Amazing info, truly, thank you! Have a great evening!