Shoots of the early-maturing potato (Solatium tuberosum L.) cultivar Jemseg often do not emerge uniformly when cut seed pieces are planted in cold soil. Under controlled temperatures of 10, 15 and 20 °C, shoots from whole tubers and basal portions of Jemseg tubers emerged later than those from apical portions of seed tubers. The delayed emergence of the basal portion was most pronounced at low temperatures and ranged from 5 to 17 d. Emergence from basal vs. apical portions of Conestoga was delayed by 10 d at 10 °C and by 4 d at 15 °C, only when seed tubers with a single dominant apical sprout were used. There was no delay at 20 °C. The variable time to emergence of shoots in the field can be explained by delayed emergence from basal buds on cut seed pieces.Key words: Potato, cultivars, emergence, bud position, temperature, seed tuber