Not impressed with Marshalls seeds!!!

**WendyC** · 02-05-2014, 07:58 PM

I had some osteospermum from them last week. They emailed to say they had been dispatched and when they arrived the plants were in excellent condition and had the best packaging I've seen. Also got my seed potatoes from them and they were good too. Were the sweet potatoes already potted up or have you potted them up? What a shame. Can't you ring them tomorrow?

**frogga** · 02-05-2014, 08:16 PM

They were in a box, no soil, wrapped in brown parcel paper, very dry. I put them in that pot with water and had hoped to revive them, there were no roots on them either which I could not understand.

Andrew

**WendyC** · 02-05-2014, 08:35 PM

Never grown or bought them before but if they had leaves, you'd expect roots! Hope you get it resolved quickly.

**Potstubsdustbins** · 02-05-2014, 08:41 PM

I hope you took a photograph of them as they arrived as this would prove your point beyond doubt.

I have used Marshalls for years and always found them to be very good with customer satisfaction. About 5 years ago they sent me the wrong first early seed spuds. I made a phone call to their customer services dept and they immediately sent me the correct seed. When I asked them what to do with the wrong spuds the reply was "Oh you keep them sir as a little something for your trouble."

**veggiechicken** · 02-05-2014, 08:54 PM

I've never bought Sweet potato slips so wouldn't have known what to expect.
However, the RHS advise how to grow sweet potatoes / RHS Gardening

Sweet potatoes are best grown from cuttings, which are not, in fact, rooted and technically called 'slips'. You would normally buy them via mail order from late April onwards. When they arrive, pot them immediately into small pots of multi-purpose compost. Keep the compost moist, using tepid water. Cover the pots with a clear plastic bag or place them in an unheated propagator, until they root.

Were there growing instructions with the slips?

**frogga** · 02-05-2014, 09:15 PM

No growing instructions with them. I have a photo of them as soon as I unwrapped them, i will see what happens with them over the weekend and call Tuesday if required.

Andrew

**Kristen** · 02-05-2014, 11:37 PM

Originally posted by frogga View Post

No growing instructions with them.

Its on their website, on the page with the product details & Buy button:

How to Grow Sweet Potatoes at Marshalls Seeds

"When they arrive. Unlike traditional potatoes, Sweet Potatoes are grown from unrooted or partially rooted cuttings known as ‘slips’. (The average length of a slip is 8in/20cm).

As soon as the slips arrive immerse them in a glass of water so that � of the stem is submerged; leave them overnight to revive and firm up ready for potting on.

Potting on. Pot up each slip into a deep container; it’s important to cover the stems completely right up to the first leaves. Leave them for 8-12 days to kick start the roots into growth. Keep them somewhere warm and frost free."

See website for the remainder of the instructions

**esbo** · 02-05-2014, 11:45 PM

Bit surprised they have no roots, but they look in need of water, you should put them in wet soil/compost and hope for the best. As has been said burying more of the stem might help if they can absorb water through them.
It is amazing how some plants can recover when in need of water.

**Kristen** · 02-05-2014, 11:47 PM

Originally posted by esbo View Post

Bit surprised they have no roots, but they look in need of water, you should put them in wet soil/compost and hope for the best.

This is not correct, they need to be stood in water to make then "turgid" (if that is the right word?) first.

**veggiechicken** · 02-05-2014, 11:50 PM

Slips don't have roots - a slip is like a chit on a potato.
I'm growing slips on some supermarket sweet potatoes. I'll be cutting them off the tuber soon and rooting them up.

**Kristen** · 02-05-2014, 11:58 PM

Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post

I'm growing slips on some supermarket sweet potatoes

Took ages when I did them the first time., I think the Supermarket tubers had been treated with something to stop them sprouting - and to think we eat all that extraneous chemical soup!

I'll be cutting them off the tuber soon and rooting them up.

Sounds like yours did better than mine

I gave up in the end and bought a plant from the garden centre instead! Subsequently, from my own self-saved tubers, I got on much better. Maybe it was just chance though?

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Not impressed with Marshalls seeds!!!

Not impressed with Marshalls seeds!!!

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