LoveToKnow Garden:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Garden

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Zina,

You can probably eat them with no problem. "Seed potatoes" have been treated to prevent diseases from infecting the potatoes. If your potatoes have a disease, this could contaminate your garden. Seed potatoes will not cause this problem.

Eating potatoes that you grew from sprouted potatoes will be just fine. You don't have to use seed potatoes to have edible potatoes.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

Tarah,

It is possible that these potates were in the sunlight too long. This causes them to turn green. Green potatoes are toxic and can make you very sick.

This is the only thing I can think of that might have caused this.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

i used organic potatoes that had sprouted and i just planted them. they are growing. anyone know of a reason not to eat them? i did not buy a seed potatoe.

-- Contributed by: zina

We had some organic adirondack reds that had a sour/bitter aftertaste and made me very sick. They came from a local CSA farm and it happened to the owner too. They are researching what could have happened, but does anyone have any ideas? Please e-mail me.

-- Contributed by: Tarah Hoffland

I'm not so sure about that. Many fingerling varieties are heirloom varieties that just grow smaller.

If you like to grow your own potatoes, you can buy certified organic seed potatoes as well. They like a slightly acidic, loose, well-drained soil and they can be grown in Florida--usually in the winter or spring. You will likely need a fertilizer high in nitrogen and potassium twice a year.

Pesticides kill pests--insects that damage plants. They do not "stunt" the growth of plants so they cannot be used to make fingerling potatoes.

Go ahead and enjoy them, they are a real treat!

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

Just discovered a litle bag of Fingerling potatoes (Yellow Russian banana, Red thumb and French fingerling) I was told that these small potatoes are 'stunted' with pesticides to keep them from growing! I try to buy organic, wash all vegies with vinegar and warm water, especially those with petroleum/wax cover and want to be viligent about poisons. Can you please explain how these potatoesoriginated? Also, can they be grown in south Florida?

-- Contributed by: Terry

Red thumb potatoes are also members of the nightshade family, unlike sweet potatoes which are members of the morning glory family. If you are unable to eat white potatoes you should probably avoid red thumb potatoes as well. Thank you for your question.

-- Contributed by: Kathleen Roberts

Your web site is very informative, and I've learned a lot from it. But I have a question which may seem silly to you. I know that most potatoes are from the nightshade family of plants. What about the "red thumb" potato? Sweet potatoes or yams I know are from a different family. I can eat sweet potatoes, but not any white potatoes or any from the nightshade family. If you could answer my question, I'd be very greatful.

-- Contributed by: Joy
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