Seed potatoes

[vegboi]

Hello all, apologies if this has been covered already but I was in B and Q and they were selling seed pots, some we're sprouting already:-

Q1 is it too early to buy these?
Q2 Are these ok to buy given there sprouting already (just the earlies)
Q3 how long do I leave them before planting?


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[Penellype]

Sounds a bit early to me unless you can keep them frost free. If you don't plant them you risk the chits growing very long and getting broken off, if you plant them any foliage exposed to frost will die, and although this might not completely kill the plants, it certainly won't do them any good.

[Hazel at the Hill]

The advantage of buying early (now) is that you will have a good choice of varieties.

If you buy them now and they are already sprouting, you can rub the sprouts off and let the spuds start again. Make sure they are in a very light place, but frost free, which with encourage green sturdy shoots.

As for planting out, I plant about mid March, and plant deep, so that by the time the shoots are emerging, it's after the last frost (start of May around here).

[WendyC]

I am expecting my seed potato order to be delivered in the next week or two. Then I will keep them in trays and egg boxes until planting time, sometime mid March here. Last year I used the spare bedroom as has been said they need to be frost free. I didn't find they sprouted too much.
If you delay buying you might not get the varieties you want, depends how fussy you are! I am fussy as I have limited room so the potatoes I grow have got to earn their keep. Now if I get my second plot....

[bearded bloke]

Q1 is it too early to buy these?

Have a look at the links in this thread & see if there is an event near you listed .....

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...highlight=2014

[vegboi]

I am expecting my seed potato order to be delivered in the next week or two. Then I will keep them in trays and egg boxes until planting time, sometime mid March here. Last year I used the spare bedroom as has been said they need to be frost free. I didn't find they sprouted too much.
If you delay buying you might not get the varieties you want, depends how fussy you are! I am fussy as I have limited room so the potatoes I grow have got to earn their keep. Now if I get my second plot....

Ooo thanks Wendy may I ask what varieties you are growing ? It's my first year so need some guidance


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[vegboi]

Thank you


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[WendyC]

I've ordered Lady Christl, Juliette and Desiree. I especially like Juliette as it is a waxy salad/new potato which tastes delicious. We ate the last on Boxing Day. The only place I could find Juliette was Marshalls.
Charlotte is often recommended but in recent years I've found they fall apart when boiled, might be worth a try though. If I had more room I'd grow Red Duke of York. You can harvest early for new potatoes or leave to grow on for bigger baking potatoes.
Think about what how you like to cook potatoes and check the varieties you choose are suitable for that. If blight is a problem you might like to grow the early varieties, which are generally harvested before blight is a issue. Worth asking fellow plotholders what grows well on your site.

[Bill HH]

Last year I grew 5 varieties in bags, inteded for Christmas, they got blighted so i harvested them far too early, the thing is the tiny spuds were also covered in scabs, seriously. What caused that? they were proper seed potatoes so should have been disease free, and grown in commercial compost. If anything they were over watered could that be the cause? i dont want a repeat performance this year.

This year i am growing rocket and Orla early to try and beat blight, then Sarpo Mira for main crop. I can start them in the poly until i need it for tomatoes etc.

[bearded bloke]

spuds were also covered in scabs, seriously. What caused that? //........// If anything they were over watered could that be the cause?

Probably Powdery Scab (rather than Common Scab) Bill,see here ....... Potato scabs / Royal Horticultural Society

[Potstubsdustbins]

Bill,

With regards to your scab I think last year was a bad year for it.

I grow in dustbins etc and never normally suffer but I had a little last year as did a friend of mine.

Potty

[Bill HH]

Bill,

With regards to your scab I think last year was a bad year for it.

I grow in dustbins etc and never normally suffer but I had a little last year as did a friend of mine.

Potty

I don't know why but that makes me feel a tad better.