Seedling tubers from either transplanted seedlings or direct sowing of TPS in nursery beds can be used for growing commercial potato crop for which the agronomic practices may be standardized as per the local conditions. The agronomic and cultural practices developed for potato production from seed tubers may be adopted for commercial potato production from different sizes of seedling tubers by adjusting the planting spaces according to the size of seedling tuber.
Seedling tubers must be taken out from the cold store at least one week before normal planting time and may be planted when the sprouting is just started. Tubers with apical dominance may be desprouted to get multiple sprouting. Well-sprouted seedling tubers are planted at the time when normal potato crop is planted from seed tubers. Inter and intra row spacing varies from one region to another depending upon the local practices. Nevertheless, it may be adjusted according to the size of seedling tubers to attain the similar stem density Compared to large size seedling tubers smaller tubers are planted at closer spacing to maintain similar stem density per unit area. On basis of our research results, planting distances recommended are 60 cm between the rows and within rows it has to be 5, 10, 15, 20 cm for 15-20, 20-25, 25-30 and 30-35 mm (2-5, 5-10, 10-20 and 20-40 g) size seedling tubers, respectively. Rest of the cultural practices remains the same as adopted by the potato growers.
For planting one hectare, only 1.6-ton seedling tubers of 15-35 mm size is enough as compared to 2.5-3.0 tones of clonal seed tubers of 35-50 mm size. The reduction in planting material for a unit area reduces the storage as well as transportation cost. An average yield of 30 to 34 t/ha can be obtained from a crop raised from seedling tubers. The yield from crop through seedling tubers is comparable to that of the best variety of most regions. The seedling tubers produced in spring season can also be used successfully for raising a commercial potato crop. Autumn and spring produced seedling tubers have similar yield potential. Further, the produce from seedling tubers can safely be used successively for next two to three seasons without much depression in yield if care is taken in using only seed size or larger tubers for seed.