Question

Sometimes the potatoes kept in a basket during the late rainy season start giving out small shoots. Would you call it germination?

Answer 1

It is called sprouting.  because they are not seeds which we found on their outer layer. so, we dont call it as germination. we call it as sprouting, as they are grow into a new tubers

Answer 2

The process is mainly known as sprouting.

Nodes or eye buds present on the surface of a potatoes gives rise to small shoots.

On the other hand, germination is a development of a new plant from a seed. It involves different substrates and molecules.  

During rainy seasons, these small shoots starts appearing on the surface of potatoes.