I cut large potatoes in two pieces on planting day or the day before. I leave medium and smaller ones whole. I believe it is better to leave plenty of potato to feed the plant. I think 2 good eyes are the ideal. Too many stalks tend to smaller potatoes which I don't want.

Some people will argue that you must cut seed potatoes while others will argue there is no need. The best argument I heard about this was if you do cut the seed potatoes that leaves a nice open wound for insect pests and plant diseases to enter.

Most of the potatoes I grow are fingerlings/new potatoes, so I don't cut them, but I do pre-sprout them.

Kimm, You heard. . Have you ever tried it yourself. I have and see no problem.

Several years ago I planted both whole potatoes and cut potatoes and did not see any difference in yields. I have heard from several sources, sellers of seed potatoes, potato growers, horticulturists, people from Purdue as well as Michigan State, that cutting the seed potato can leave a nice open wound that insect pests and plant diseases can easily enter. I have read this in numerous gardening publications over the years as well as a mention in my local newspaper.

Unl.edu says that if you cut them do so a couple of days before planting to allow them to callus and prevent diseases. I believe wayne above mentioned this.

Ndsu.edu says to warm to 50-55 F before cutting an allow to callus for 10 days.

The next two site:.edu I found didn't discuss it.

Then clemson.edu said allow to callus for 3-5 days.

etc. etc. etc.

I've always cut to 2-3 eyes cause I'm a cheapskate and have always had good luck with dipping the exposed cut in powdered sulfur and waiting about 5-7 days to plant, never had any disease or insect problems..... here. It makes sense if one is planting into cold, wet soils where the seed piece will be slow to get going to pre-sprout to get the machinery going, so to speak, in order to minimize disease and get the leaves up and going sooner.

I chit my seed pieces and they take off arunnin when they hit the ground. I also don't plant them in March no matter what grandpa did.

Chitting is laying the potatoes out on newspaper in moderate light and heat. The sprouts will be short, sturdy, green, and rearing to go.

Wayne; what, you don't ALWAYS plant on St. Paddy's day either :)?

I never cut seed potatoes; I prefer to buy small ones. I grow about 80 to 90, sometimes more, so the cost is small. If I were growing, say, 25' by 25', I would cut the seed potatoes for economy. By the by, my signal for the first planting of potatoes is when the Forsythia blooms, which can be taken as a universal signal obviously. But here (S.E.Michigan) the Forsythia has been in full bloom for 4 to 5 days now -- about 3 or 4 weeks ahead of normal. But I'm holding off, allowing for an April freeze. Regards, Peter.

Michael, My grandfather used to dip the cut sides of his seed potatoes in sulfur but I never knew exactly why. I assume that it was to protect the potato in some way. Any idea why it is used? luke

Sulfur prevents rot. I do the same, but by dipping the cut area into 3% hydrogen peroxide, which I think speeds the cut oxidizing to a protective skin. Then I'll plant the cut pieces as soon as an hour later. I haven't had any problems so far.

Luke: used in the cut end dip method, S has fungicidal properties when the piece hits the soil, might help callus over the exposed cut, who knows?

I jardiniere I went on the site http://www.buy-seed-potatoes.com/
I found the onion seeds, seed shallots
it is very well