Second Growth

Potato tubers develop best when they grow at a constant rate. High temperatures, drought and other stresses that cause growth to slow and then speed up when favourable conditions return result in second growth. Tuber chaining and heat sprouts are caused by renewed tuber growth after exposure to extended periods of warm soil temperatures.

Tuber Chaining

Heat Sprouts

Heat sprouts are produced from tubers or stolons, and grow as new sprouts or develop into leafy above-ground stems.

Little Tuber, Secondary Tuber

Tubers sprout either in storage or in the field, producing new marble-size tubers without forming a normal plant.
The little tuber disorder is associated with physiologically aged tubers, warm seed tubers planted in cool soil, and the transfer of sprouted tubers from warm to cold storage.