Potato grow from supermarket

**rustylady** · 02-01-2012, 02:03 PM

Just had a quick look on Google, and there are chemicals that can be sprayed on potatoes to stop them sprouting in storage. One link here, but there is plenty of information on the net if you look. http://www.umaine.edu/umext/potatopr...rs-section.pdf Another one here http://www.ivi-air.com/ivi/Options-for-CIPC-Limits.pdf

**starloc** · 02-01-2012, 02:29 PM

Thanks, i couldnt find anything now i have something to search on

Ive already found out that it doesnt last, that it can be reversed with something and seed potatoes are often treated as well to prevent early sprouting

I guesed treating with kinetin or cytokinin would make them sprout, but probably better just to keep them warm and blow air on them in a light place

On one of the research papers It seems that if you ever have a potato that needs to sprout more rapidly they sprout faster if cut in half and stood on damp cotton wool, even faster if sprayed with a cytokinin ( so misting with coconut milk would speed the sprouting up as its a natural source of cytokinin )

**bearded bloke** · 02-01-2012, 02:34 PM

Try emailing ........... EUROPLANT Plant Breeding Ltd. .... & see if they have a UK agent

Their data sheet ....... Europlant//downloads/en-gb/variety/Elfe

**Cranford Steve** · 04-01-2012, 05:03 PM

I get my bought potatoes from a small independent shop. They are always covered in muck still and in a big bag. They are sprouting now as I have come to the end of the bag. Do you think these have been treated? The sprouts are thick and about half an inch long, they have been in the bag so not got much light, I now going to chit them and see what happens.

**daylily** · 04-01-2012, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by starloc View Post

Ive often grown supermarket potatoes , some grow well, some dont sprout

Obviously some sort of treatment is done to the potato , does anyone know what they do to them?

Most grow ok, i had problems a few years ago with exquisa , i want to grow something like Elfe as they are the best potato i have found but can find no seed potatos for them ( i presume they arent making them available yet )

Hormonal treatments are often used to inhibit growth in all sorts of plants.

But may I ask why do you bother with this?

What's the point in growing supermarket vegetables?

**SlugLobber** · 05-01-2012, 02:11 PM

I used to grow supermarket spuds if they got wrinkly and past the good eating stage for 'tea' as it was called oop North. Haven't done that for years, but I think in 'my day' (I was about 8, lol!), they didn't treat with growth inhibitors. I think if you left them for long enough in a warm place, they would sprout eventually. Sythetic hormones degrade, like most chemicals.

**Snadger** · 21-10-2015, 05:52 PM

Apologies for re-starting an old thread but I have to extol the virtues of Elfe potatoes.

I planted Elfe potatoes i got from the supermarket this year and have had a wonderful crop! Dare i say it, they are even tastier than the originals that i bought which had been grown in Dubai I think, so had a few air miles on them.

They were �2.00 a bag and this gave me enough to plant a bed 10 foot X 4 Foot. They are a heavy cropper of large tasty potatoes.
The only slight negative is that a very small percentage had keel slug damage whereas my Kestrel spuds planted next to them had no damage.
I'll deffo be growing them again next year so will have to keep an eye out for when they appear in the shops!

**veggiechicken** · 21-10-2015, 06:14 PM

Yer ya go...........https://groceries.morrisons.com/webs...lett_SHELFVIEW

**Snadger** · 21-10-2015, 07:01 PM

Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post

Yer ya go...........https://groceries.morrisons.com/webs...lett_SHELFVIEW

Cheers veggie.

Dilemma is, do i buy them now and try and keep them through the winter without sprouting or do I take a chance that there will be some available in spring to start chitting at that time.

Or do i just keep some egg sized tubers from my own crop

Belt and braces methinks.Keep some.........buy some now......and if it all goes pear shaped............buy some in spring!

**veggiechicken** · 21-10-2015, 08:56 PM

If they're that good I may have to try a few myself

Some to eat and some to grow

**Bigmallly** · 21-10-2015, 09:44 PM

I used to keep them in a box of sawdust over the winter Snadge & never had any problems. Hope this helps making your mind up.

**Snadger** · 22-10-2015, 05:42 AM

Originally posted by Bigmallly View Post

I used to keep them in a box of sawdust over the winter Snadge & never had any problems. Hope this helps making your mind up.

I usually keep a few of my own over winter in a drawer in the allotment shed. It worked last year so i might try a few.

**Kirk** · 22-10-2015, 10:25 AM

I will pick up a bag of Anya or PFA potato's then keep a few back for planting into containers. Since a container will get about 4 each and I only grow a couple of containers it is the easiest way to get hold of a few.

So far the results have always been good.
Especially when a pack of either of the above are reduced.

Not really necessary if you have a GC that allows you to get say 4 of one variety but if the option is that you have to buy a bag of 100 then not really a great choice.

**Chris11** · 22-10-2015, 07:53 PM

Same as Snadger, I've grown Elfe potatoes that were originally supermarket bought.

They used to sell them as a Tesco Finest variety, but it looks they've been discontinued, or at least, currently not available. Tesco Finest Elfe Potatoes 1.5Kg - Groceries - Tesco Groceries

Morrisons looks like your best bet, as per post from VC.

Chitted mine on egg boxes on the window sill, got them sprouting no trouble. Grew well and had a tasty crop. Have done supermarket Charlottes and Maris Piper the same way.

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