Potatoes - where to start? (Merged Thread)

kazwookie

Mine are chitting in a box, might plant 1st earlies tomorrow.

Going to be planting in compost bags, for me I had good results last year

BigDonut

I'm in central scotland and was holding off putting them in to be sure the cold has passed.
I'm starting to get impatient now though.

Do you think it would be ok to put them in now?

Golden_Anemone

Bigdonut I put my First Earlies in yesterday and I'm in Northern Ireland. I'll cover them with fleece if there's a hard frost forecast.

Cavan28

My OH is growing her own for the first time. She has various seeds set and the veg patch prepared and ready to go.

She is intending on growing potatoes from seeds then transfering them into pots/bags outside. Someone at work has said this is the best way to do it. Apparently 'planting' an actual potato is the wrong thing to do and yeilds poor returns??

Can any of you help?

moppet_217

Hi

By growing potato from seed I think you are reffering to seed potatoes.

Seed potatoes are the best way to grow spuds. They look like a normal eating potato but are certified disease free. I know of peopl who have planted a normal spud with mixed results.

Traditionaly spuds are plated on good friday. I was in wilkonsons the other day and they stil had some spuds for a resonable price. If she can get them soon and start chitting them all the better if not don't worry they are fine to plant not chitted.

This is a link to growing potatoes in bags info
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/growing-techniques/potato-container-growing-video_29386.html#post401822

Your wife may also like to join this forum lots of very helpful people and a very good seed swapping community.

McKneff

You have to buy 'seed potatoes' and plant them.

You cannot grow a potato from a seed, i gather you mean a little tiny thing out of a packet, like a flower seed. (someone at work is pulling her leg)

McKneff

moppet_217 wrote: »

Hi

By growing potato from seed I think you are reffering to seed potatoes.

Seed potatoes are the best way to grow spuds. They look like a normal eating potato but are certified disease free. I know of peopl who have planted a normal spud with mixed results.

Traditionaly spuds are plated on good friday. I was in wilkonsons the other day and they stil had some spuds for a resonable price. If she can get them soon and start chitting them all the better if not don't worry they are fine to plant not chitted.

This is a link to growing potatoes in bags info
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/grapevine/growing-techniques/potato-container-growing-video_29386.html#post401822

Your wife may also like to join this forum lots of very helpful people and a very good seed swapping community.

aw come on matey, if the OPs other half is a newie planter how is she supposed to know what plated means or chitted. Explain for us all please and what has Good Friday got to do with it.

Farway

anniehanlon wrote: »

aw come on matey, if the OPs other half is a newie planter how is she supposed to know what plated means or chitted. Explain for us all please and what has Good Friday got to do with it.

I reckon the "plated" is a typo for planted

Chitting refers to letting the seed spuds grow some new shoots before you plant them

Often done using egg boxes, one spud per egg slot, spud eyes upwards [or most of them any way] in a warmish light place, like a window

This is supposed to give a head start, but Gardeners World & others have done trials and found no difference in long run

Good Friday reference is just a handy reminder for calendar, like pick dandelion heads for wine on St George's day, or round here plant out runner beans after Wickham Fair

Cavan28

Brilliant - thanks guys for all your help.

Your exactly right i did mean seed potato rather than seeds like plant seed etc.

Oh an thanks for explaining in detail the egg box thing, very useful. with the help of all you guys she will be a pro in no time!!

Thanks again!

kazwookie

We had fun here on this board last year with a potato weigh in, and some members got very good results.

Good luck to your OH, remember water and plenty of it helps