Potatoes - where to start? (Merged Thread)

soba

Is it possible to get smaller quantities of seed potatoes at this time of year?
I've just been on a site and their potatoes come in 2 kilo bags!! That's too much for me - I'm still a beginner!!

If I can't get some now, am I supposed to buy them all in January for use during the year ( our local Wilkinsons had them in at the beginning of the year that would crop all year round), and if that's the case, how am I supposed to store them?

I know someone will know the answer,
Thanks.

Gebo26

Potatoes don't crop all year round, but you can store them and use them all year round - provided that you have enough and they don't rot!

They are available from garden centres early in the year. If you want to try several varieties you can get them in packs of five or ten tubers, or some pet shops and hardware store still sell them loose, by weight.

There are first earlies, second earlies, early maincrop and late maincrop, but they can all be planted at the same time (around April) but will be ready for lifting from June until October.

I wouldn't be taken in by the so-called second cropping varieties, at least not until you gain more experience.

My own preferences are for first earlies, second earlies, and early maincrop potatoes. Later ones tend to get more problems with slugs and blight.

This year the blight has struck early and for the first time I have lost much of my first early potato crop and the rest are unlikely to survive either.

kah22

I've heard a lot of gardening progames over the year recommending growing a small number of seed potatoes in a large pot for Christmas. A good idea but what variety and when to plant - any ideas?

Kevin

pollyskettle

Suttons have charlotte potatoes listed as Christmas ones:

http://www.suttons.co.uk/pd_220219_Charlotte_Potatoes.htm

I think you plant in July, but not sure (not very experienced with spuds lol)

Edit:

They also list Carlingford and Maris Peer:

http://www.suttons.co.uk/pl_Potatoes_.htm

arkonite_babe

Does anyone know if yukon gold potatoes are supposed to flower?? Dad and I have both got these spuds growing in tubs and no flowers yet. I do have some pentland dells in my raised bed, and they are flowering away.

Any advice apprecaited for a first time potato grower

lyns_2

My earlies and middle ones are both now in flower and the lates have buds on them,when do i pull the mid ones up as these ones are showing signs of blight. The earlies look all washed out but only had a few white marble sized potatoes on them when i checked about 2 weeks ago.

charlies_mum

My earlies are Arron Pilot and we have been pulling them for about 3 weeks now, they are delicious. Just come back after a weeks holiday, and the leaves have all died back, so need to get them up quickly.

We also pulled some second crop yesterday, and they are ready also, so looks like a potato glut coming

I need to get some more in now, as I really want to try to get potatoes all year round - my neighbout allotmenteer who has been growing for years, suggested that I just use supermarket ones, so will give it a go.

lyns_2

just having a feel around in my tub of potatoes and i found one.I then ended up tipping up the tub to get the rest of them They could of done with another week to set the skins but once i found the one my 4 year old and i were to excited to stop,my sister look on as if i was mad.

there charlotts im going to have then with lamb chops for dinner. the bag i got from costco on saturday will have to be eaten tomorrow

heather38

sweet potaoes don't grow from seeds they grow from slips, and are completely different to potatoes.
never grown them my self but am gonna see if i can get some for next year.

ness_w

I would really like to grow my own, but am away always for all of August. There are some seed potatoes at the garden centre that claim to crop earlier than this so I am wondering if I need to get seed potatoes or if I could just get hold of the same variety in the supermarket? In the past I have grown them in compost bags and topped up the compost as they grow, can I do this just with ordinary soil?

Many thanks for any ideas, Ness.