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Seed Potatoes .. Why do some suppliers sell by weight, rather than numbers !!

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  • Seed Potatoes .. Why do some suppliers sell by weight, rather than numbers !!

    I have been looking at the various seed potato suppliers (sad I know, as it's several months before planting time)

    Being a new allotment holder I am obviously keen to make 2014 a bumper year (just hope Sainsbury's will survive without my purchases)

    However, it seems some suppliers sell by the kg, in bags of 1.5kg, 2.5kg etc rather than, in my opinion the better way, in bags of known quantities.

    I would imagine it would be impossible to get an idea of potatoes / kg even for a single variety, so it makes ordering difficult ... it helps the suppliers though, as people will probably get too many, rather than too few.

    It would be a simple procedure, to work out how many spuds are needed, add a few extras 'just in case' and order the exact number, or something close. With weights, you could be well out on your calcs.

    I have learnt that JBA are a good supplier, but they are one of the 'per kg' shops.

    T&M though, sell in 20's or 60's <<< better I think

    What do folk here think

  • #2
    It is quite acceptable to buy fewer seeds and cut them into pieces making sure each piece has an eye (chit)
    sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
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    • #3
      If there's a potato day near you that would be a good place to buy from because they have lot of different varieties.
      I only grow my potatoes in recycling boxes and can buy just 12 tubers from my local corn merchant so that works out good for me.
      Location....East Midlands.

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      • #4
        JBA also sell potatoes in packs of five, ideal if you want to try several different varieties.

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        • #5
          Find a potato day near you - lots of fun!

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          • #6
            I've yet to buy a seed spud. I've always used supermarket tatties & just washed them to remove any sprouting inhibitors that may have been applied.
            sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
            --------------------------------------------------------------------
            Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
            -------------------------------------------------------------------
            Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
            -----------------------------------------------------------
            KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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            • #7
              That's the first time I've seen potatoes sold by number, rather than weight - apart from small sample packs!
              I don't think selling by weight is a problem anyway
              Take for example the Lady Christl that I've ordered from Marshalls (on the free p&P weekend ages ago)

              It says that 2kg is 25 - 30 tubers. If I get 30 it means some will be on the small side - so towards the end of the row I just put a couple of the smallest ones together when planting them. Simples!

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Thelma Sanders View Post
                It says that 2kg is 25 - 30 tubers. If I get 30 it means some will be on the small side - so towards the end of the row I just put a couple of the smallest ones together when planting them. Simples!
                I do it the other way round: cut the big ones in half with at least one decent eye / chit on each piece.
                My gardening blog: In Spades, last update 30th April 2018.
                Chrysanthemum notes page here.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by wbmkk View Post
                  some suppliers sell by the kg, in bags of 1.5kg, 2.5kg etc
                  well if they're posting them out, weight is how they get charged by couriers & Royal Mail
                  All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                  • #10
                    Maybe I'm old-fashioned but ,if possible, I like to see what I'm buying. My local garden centre has a potato tasting weekend at the end of January every year. I generally more or less know what I want and buy the large bags there, sold by weight, but after tasting different varieties I'm always tempted to buy a few loose potatoes of different varieties just to see if there is something I might really like. This is how I ended up swapping to Lady Balfour for my maincrop a couple of years ago.

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                    • #11
                      We're just having the same problem now. A local shop is selling 10 tubers at £1.99 or 3 for £5 but at the market, it's 3.5kg for £3.99. According to the market man there's 36-40 tubers in a 3.5kg sack so it's marginally cheaper but they don't make things easy do they?
                      Proud renter of 4.6 acres of field in Norfolk. Living the dream.

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                      • #12
                        several weeks before planting more like! Not months!

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                        • #13
                          I suspect counting them out would bump up the price, but it would be handy to buy the right number for the rows I want to plant. Pink Fir apple have loads more per Kg than, say, Charlotte ...
                          K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our garden

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by chilli_grower View Post
                            several weeks before planting more like! Not months!
                            still months up here . I won't be planting till mid April.

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                            • #15
                              I have seen the smaller 'taster' packs of 10 potatoes..

                              Apart from that I've only seen bags of 2.5kg, 2kg, 1.5KG

                              I bought from Wilkinsons this year, purely because they were cheaper (this year i'm on an extra tight budget).

                              One of the 2.5Kg bags had 26 in, the other 28.
                              Anywhere between 25 and 30 is fine by me for £2.75
                              Lets hope the results are as good as my 'normal' supply route (JBA)

                              Can I just ask, the people who cut in half.. do you do that now, and hope they 'seal over'..or wait til planting, just I was thinking some of my Desiree are quite large..but I was also thinking that cutting when planting could lead to rot or attack by insects, slugs etc?
                              <*}}}>< Jonathan ><{{{*>

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