Potato Fruit Seeds (True Potato Seeds or TPS) are the result of natural cross-pollination between flowering potato plants. Each seed holds the potential for a brand-new potato variety, allowing you to select for traits like flavour, colour, shape, storage ability, and disease resistance. Plants grown from TPS often flower abundantly, displaying a range of petal colours from white and pink to mauve and purple. At the end of the first season, you'll harvest a range of tuber sizes—store the largest, healthiest ones to plant in Year 2. In their second year, these tubers will grow into mature plants, giving you a chance to evaluate and save your favourites.

Where Can You Grow Potato Fruit Seeds?
Potatoes grown from TPS are best suited to Zones 3-9. They thrive in full sun, well-drained soil, and regular watering. Great for garden beds, potato towers, or deep containers.

History and Historical Uses
Potatoes were first domesticated in the Andes, where farmers have long used true seed to adapt and develop landrace varieties. TPS allows home growers and seed savers to do the same—selecting and stabilising varieties suited to their local conditions. This method preserves genetic diversity and builds resilience into food systems.

Canadian Zone Information
Zones 8-9: Start seeds indoors in early spring; transplant seedlings after the last frost.
Zones 5-7: Start indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost; transplant once soil warms.
Zones 3-4: Start indoors; grow in pots or containers in Year 1 to protect from cool soil.

How to Grow and Harvest Potato Fruit Seeds

Planting: Sow seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost in seedling trays; transplant to garden or containers after danger of frost.
Watering: Keep soil moist but not soggy; consistent watering improves tuber development.
Harvesting: In Year 1, harvest tubers at the end of the season; select the largest and healthiest to store.
Maintenance: Hill soil around growing plants to encourage tuber formation and prevent greening.

Seed Saving Tips for Future Supply

Let Plants Flower and Fruit: Allow flowering and fruit set for future seed collection.
Harvest Fruits: Collect ripe seed balls (green, cherry tomato-like fruits) at the end of the season.
Extract and Clean: Scoop out seeds, ferment for 2-3 days, rinse, and dry thoroughly.
Store: Keep seeds in a cool, dry place; viable for up to 10 years.

Certified Organic By
Islands Organics Producers Association (Cert#1962)