Seed Potatoes

Farway

choille wrote: »

I'm doing my usual miserly seed thing again with potatoes this year - using last year's wee ones that haven't been eaten.

OK I know you are not in same situation, but is was saving the smaller ones for next year that was part of reason behind some famines, goes against the grain, but the larger ones should be saved, same as save longest runners for seeds, or fattest pea pods, tallest sunflowers etc

That is save the best for seed, not worst

However we are lucky enough not to depend on our own seeds so do whatever you wish really

choille

I save egg sized potatoes for seed in my new beds, I don't think that was the cause of famine. I would never use a big tattie for seed without cutting it in to quarters first - that's ridiculous & yes I certainly will do as I wish.

esmf73

Hi - this may sound like a stupid question, but this is the first time I've grown any veg except for lettuce & toms!

Am growing spuds. Got some Nicola seed spuds from B&Q (husband was paying!!) they're now propped up in cardboard egg boxes on my windowcill as per instructions.

What do I need to get to plant them in? Do I need a special spud growing kit or could I use something like a plastic bin? help very greatfully received.

Have also grown carrots - but ground is frozen so I can't get them out - have onions and beetroot in ground too. I know the onions won't be ready until the summer but does anyone know when the beetroot should be ready? Planted in August.

Many many thanks xx

ALIBOBSY

gayle21 wrote: »

Hello again

I'm thinking of trying to grow potatoes this year, they seems awfully expensive though.... There is an offer in grow your own magazine for 10 pink apple firs for the price of the P&P but just wondered where you all get them from.

Looking for major bargains this year! but having one small indulgence, I spotted a fabulous watering can printed with tomatoes for £9.99 with free P&P I've had my eye on it for a while but it was too expensive, gotta love those sales :rolleyes:

Gx

I thought the offer in GYO was for Nicola tubers or is there another offer I missed (the Nicola offer is on a separate sheet and may be a subscriber offer?)

ali x

Vixie_Pixie

In my local QD today my parents bought packs of 8 seed potatoes (pentland javelin, maris peers and Arran Pilot) for 89p a packet!!

orchidpepper

89p? WOW

We don't have a QD, don't even know what it is..........i'm very jealous!!!

Gx

TheCheapFashionista

I really want to grow my own potatoes this year but am really confused with all the terminology - tubers, chitting etc etc.

Do you need to grow them from seed or can you plant some potatoes that have started to sprout (leaving them in the veg drawer for a little too long!).

Whatever way once you have seedlings what do you do with them then? Someone told me to put a layer of compost in a wheelie bin, put the seedlings in then cover them with more compost and hey presto in a few months youll have potatoes - sounds a bit dodgy to me!

Sorry it these are really silly questions but Im just starting out

Vixie_Pixie

I'm pretty new to this gardening lark myself so i'm not sure about what "chitting" means lol

All we did on our allotment last year was to buy a packet of seed potatoes, put them into the ground then covered them in compost. As the leaves came through we covered them in more compost ("earthed") on top of them and we did that a few times. Then we let them grow and flower. Once the flowers fell off and the foliage started to die down we dug up the potatoes. From 9 seed potatoes we got about 20lb of potatoes! You could do that in a large container too... i know my parents did but i think they have more success growing in the ground?????? :rolleyes:

gayle21 - QD is a chain of discount stores. I think they are in East anglia and the south east?? I know there is a store finder on their website but they are great for cheap seeds and stuff - I hope you can find one near you!

ALIBOBSY

Some people like to chit, some don't bother. I remember reading a trial where they compared chitted and unchitted spud yeilds and there was no difference lol. But it does feel nicer to be planting something which is already starting to grow.
My Dad used to cut up his seed spuds to get more out of them, but don't know how that works?

ali x

TheCheapFashionista

Vixie_Pixie wrote: »

a packet of seed potatoes,

thanks for the info Vixie - one more stupid question then I'm done - I promise!!!

The packet you bought was that actually seeds or potatoes that had the little sprout things on???

I guess I sound really dumb hu!