windthread

under certain conditions…"potato plants produce small green fruits filled with hundreds of seeds and about the size of a cherry tomato and with much the same appearance.   While potatoes grown from tubers or seed potatoes produce an exact genetic clone of the mother plant,  those grown from true potato seed are not clones and will have different characteristics than the parent plant.  True potato seed is most often used by plant breeders to facilitate hybridization and fruit production.   It is possible to grow potatoes from true potato seed.  It is wise to use heirloom potato varieties,  as potato seed pods from hybrids will not produce good quality spuds.  To grow potatoes from true potato seeds, you need to separate the seeds from the rest of the fruit.  First,  gently mash the berries,  then place in water and let sit for three or four days.  This mix will begin to ferment.  The resulting floating fermentation should be poured off.  Viable seeds will sink to the bottom and should then be rinsed well and allowed to dry on a paper towel.  Seeds can then be labeled and saved in a cool dry place until planting season."  Gardening  Know How,  Amy Grant