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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Jayb on February 04, 2011, 19:56:18

Title: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 04, 2011, 19:56:18
I know it has been done before with differing results but a few people mentioned they fancied having a go growing True Potato seed this year. Last year was my first year growing spuds from TPS, I didn’t know quite what to expect, but I was pleased with the results and I’m well and certainly hooked. I’ve got a few varieties to try this year and who know what they will bring.

I’m hoping to get around to sowing my seeds, in a heated propagator, end of Feb to the middle of March, well that’s the plan.

These were mine growing last year
[attachment=1]

and then freshly harvested, these were all grown in a 4’ x 8’ bed.
 [attachment=2][attachment=3][attachment=4]

Seed I think was from a White Cara, which had either been selfed or possibly crossed with an adjoining variety in the next row (can’t remember what). They produced a variety of sizes, shapes, textures and skin colour. Taste ranged from great to reminding me of school dinners, over cooked and soggy. A couple were very floury and not suitable for boiling, but many were really nice and waxy.

I’ve saved potatoes from the best tasting tubers which also produced  a good sized crop of potatoes,  I’ll be growing these again this year. I'm looking forward to seeing how they grow from tubers rather than seed. 

This year I’m growing seed from Ratte, Red Cara, (thanks to Pigeonseed and Earlypea) also Russian Banana, Russian Blue which I was lucky enough to grow last year and I hope I may have the chance of a couple of other varieties.

I’ll try and do some photos once they are sown and sprouted. Anyone else joining in growing TPS?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: pumkinlover on February 04, 2011, 20:12:40
I think I'll just watch with interest Jayb as already trying to make sure I know how to grow true seed of other stuff for the seed swop.
I never thought this was a runner till I read your post, do you get the crop the same year as you sow the seed?
 why isn't it done more often?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on February 05, 2011, 01:07:18
Ooh.. if you've got some seed from the Ratte spare could I beg a few/couple/one?....Swap you for soem Congo (small tubers from last years crop which were potgrown microtubers in manure).....

chrisc
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: aj on February 05, 2011, 09:50:35
I did this a couple of years ago but only in pots.

Last year was a write-off potato wise so....this year i am hoping to do what I had hoped to do last year and save the TPS from both my Amorosa and Mayan Gold potatoes and use them the next year. If I can get them to that stage!
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 06, 2011, 15:51:32
Yes you can get a crop the same year, or you can grow little mini tubers and use them as seed potatoes the following year.

I don’t think it’s done much because in many respects it is easier to go to the professional grower and buy quality seed potatoes and know what you are growing. It’s also a  bit more fiddly for one thing growing from seed and due to the complex genes of potatoes (most have double the amount, like having 4 direct parents in the mix) you just don’t know what you will be growing for sure even with selfed seed. So really exciting I think to be eating new varieties and saving any that may be special.

Hi Crisc, I’ve not got loads of Ratte seeds but you are welcome to share, no need to swap. Pm me your addie.

Fingers crossed Aj that all traces have now gone   :)
If you want to practice with a few this year you are very welcome to some of my seeds.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on February 07, 2011, 00:04:13
reading this with interest, keep us posted on your progress  :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 13, 2011, 11:18:23
Will do  ;D

I'm quite excited even though I've not even sown any seeds yet  ;D but fingers crossed that they grow. I'm hoping the Russian Blue will produce a variety of different shaped tubers in several colours and it would be fantastic to get some good ones with purple/blue flesh. Not that I want much  ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on February 13, 2011, 11:37:55
What does true potato seeds look like..I've never thought to break any of the seed pods open..do they look anything like tomato seeds?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: aj on February 13, 2011, 18:06:01
What does true potato seeds look like..I've never thought to break any of the seed pods open..do they look anything like tomato seeds?

More like tomatillo seeds....

thanks Jayb but I have too many seed pots as it is!
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 15, 2011, 14:35:08
Similar sort of shape to tomatoes but as Aj says more akin to tomatillo, though they are much smaller seeds  :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: calendula on February 16, 2011, 14:35:28
might have a go at this next year, i.e. harvest the seed this year - always worth a try  :D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 26, 2011, 08:25:21
I guess like many, my original inspiration for growing TPS is Tom Wagner, anyone interested in growing TPS or finding out more might like to look at;
I love Tom's site/blog, lots of super information http://tatermater.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general, and http://tater-mater.blogspot.com/
This site has some awesome sounding varieties and OMG tomato varieties too http://newworldcrops.com/wp/
Rebsie Fairholm has a super blog and a really good user frendly description http://daughterofthesoil.blogspot.com/2010/04/sowing-potatoes-from-tps.html
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 02, 2011, 08:26:42
I sowed the first of my TPS yesterday Yayyyyy  ;D
Seed sown in modules using multipurpose compost, and now currently residing in a heated propagator.
I'll sow some more in a few weeks time and again a bit later in the year, in the hope of producing mini-tubers to grow as seed potatoes next year!
I'm hoping to end up with a varied assortment of skin colours, different coloured flesh and a range of types. Well that's the dream, reality will as likely be a tad different ;D

I know Chriscross is growing some, so it will be good to hear how his plants progress.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on March 02, 2011, 10:28:50
Jayb and you all you true potato seed growers..John Miller sent me this link..there seem to be lots of potato seeds on offer..
http://newworldcrops.com/wp/ (http://newworldcrops.com/wp/)
..just in case you have some spare pocket money left to spend....
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 02, 2011, 19:33:28
Thanks goodlife, I've got a link to it a little further up the thread but its worth repeating so I can drool a little more. Its an exciting site, all those years of dedication and breeding. I love reading about all those super sounding potatoes and tomatoes  ;D

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Tom Wagner on March 03, 2011, 06:31:05
Thanks everybody for mentioning my potato work with TPS (True Potato Seed)!

I will make a special offer here on this site; Allotments 4 All....free potato seed!  The only thing you have to do is send me an email, PM, etc., and express that you want the TPS of 'HOWIE MANDEL'  and I will send it free....no postage...just to get you started on interesting potatoes that can be found under every single seedling hill.

'HOWIE MANDEL' is a cross of Mandel and John Tom Kaighin that I made recently.  This potato clone is a oval/long fingerling type with violet skin and light yellow flesh.  The seedlings will segregate for different colors of skin, but the flesh should be mostly yellow.  It has a great flavor from the Mandel...aka..Peanut...Almond...etc., and from the John Tom Kaighin which is a three way cross of Lumper to Tollocan and crossed to Tom Kaighin.

The TPS I would send is OP, which means it probably selfed itself, but could have some stray pollen as a pollinator.  The flavors of the different seedling tubers should be good to excellent and one should find a variety of cooking types...from floury to waxy.  My TPS to you is an invitation...a little seed from me to alot 4 All of you to try!

Tom Wagner
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 03, 2011, 09:37:13
Welcome again to A4A Tom.
What a fantastic offer for everyone here, thank you  :)
Will Howie Mandel be possibly late blight resistant too?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jeannine on March 03, 2011, 10:55:29
Hi Tom, super to see you here, I am the Vancouverite who tried to get over the line to pick up spuds last year and didn't manage it.

What a wonderful offer so help folks get started, you are very kind.

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Tom Wagner on March 03, 2011, 15:47:33
My variety -'HOWIE MANDEL'  - carries some resistance to the late blight we have here in the states and that comes from the John Tom Kaighin line, which in turn gets its resistance from the Mexican variety Tollocan.  If you want resistance to the blights you have in the UK, such as the Blue-13, I have TPS of Sarpo Mira that throws a high percentage of seedlings with good to excellent blight resistance.

Mandel has no blight resistance where I live and neither does it in the UK.  I am including the following copy/paste quote from a site in the UK that comments about Mandel and Sarpo Mira.

http://www.suttonelms.org.uk/sarpo.html
Quote
If you doubt the late blight resistance of Sarpo Mira, look at these pictures:

First picture - late April planting, photographed 26 Jul 05. The plant has been attacked by early blight (looks like it's suffering from chicken pox) but the plant remains vigorous, and new leaves (not on the picture, but I assure you they are there, sprouting from the main stem) are unblemished. Neighbouring potato plants (Anya, Mandel, Salad Blue) are collapsing with varying degrees of blight.

Notice they mentioned Mandel?

I have lived for the last 7 years in an area of Washington that always gets late blight and the collections of potatoes from around the world with late blight resistance have been bred to get annual increases of potato seedlings from TPS that have increasingly better blight resistance.

If finding potatoes with late blight or early blight resistance is your Holy Grail, then contact me.

Tom Wagner

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on March 04, 2011, 16:27:55
wow what a kind offer Tom! There was I planning on sitting on the fence and watching Jayb and the others to see how they get on!
Will have a little think on it first to see if I have the room and expertise to deal with these!

1066  :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 05, 2011, 11:40:15
Thanks for taking the time to explain Tom, and your offer. I'd made a naive assumption that blight resistance from those varieties may be effective over here too. I'll try and make some of my own crosses this year (fingers crossed) with some of the Sarpo varieties. If I'm not asking too much, any tips for what crosses? Looking for blight resistance and an improved eating quality (I prefer waxy types). Here’s what I have available on the resistant front;
Axona and Mira, ( also Blue Danube Sarpo Una, Sarpo Kifli, though they are not as resistant)
Setanta
Toluca
Orla

On the blight theme, I'm growing Lumpers from Irish Seed Savers Association this year (I'm not sure if you have a hand in that), so fingers crossed they stay well long enough for a crop!

Go on 1066, you know you want to, I'm hoping Jeannine will be joining in too ;D If you are short on space for this year, what about growing some in smallish pots and getting some mini tubers to grow as seed potatoes next year? I’m hoping to do this with some later on.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on March 05, 2011, 13:50:25
just been looking at Tom's website ................ I knew it would be fatal!

It sounds like a lot of fun, and oh what the heck, I'll be in good company anayway. Just be prepared for some dumb questions!!

Tom, thank you and I'll send you a pm

1066  :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 05, 2011, 14:03:38
 ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on March 05, 2011, 14:09:50
don't you grin at me like that! It's time you sat on the norty step young lady!!!  :P  ::)  ;)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jeannine on March 05, 2011, 23:51:24
Yep, you were right..Jeannine has ordered too..so many varieties.. I think I should be looking for a farm again!!

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 09, 2011, 21:43:40
 ;D ;D
Just off the norty step


;D  ;D thought you might Jeannine

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 09, 2011, 22:04:20
I sowed my TPS on the 1st March, in two trays. Unfortunately I may have cooked one lot, when my old propagator overheated, although I noticed today a couple pushing through.

The second tray's seedlings started to show on the 6th
[attachment=1]

What a diference a day makes , picture taken on the 7th
[attachment=2]
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on March 09, 2011, 22:06:22
gosh..they do look like tomato seedlings...weird to imagine that those little things would grow some taties..
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on March 10, 2011, 09:04:08
gosh..they do look like tomato seedlings...weird to imagine that those little things would grow some taties..

On the other hand have you seen a potato-leaved tomato before it flowers.... you'd swear blind it was a spud..... :D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on March 10, 2011, 15:47:14
I've just been looking that seedling picture again...Jayb did you polish the tray for the photo?.. ;D...looks so clean and tidy...mine are always splashed all over with compost and water ::)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on March 10, 2011, 15:53:13
Oh..and another thing that I was wondering.. ::)
When you harvest the seed pods...do the seeds come clean out of the pod straight away or is there some sort of 'gunk' to get rid of first ???..like with tomatoes..
And do you process with the seeds then as usual...drying them out before packing away untill spring..etc.
I was "just" thinking if this "bug"(feeling the first symptoms already) doesn't clear out I might have to do the whole thing from start to finish..from harvesting the seed to digging potatoes out..just to get it out of my system..:-X ::) ;)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 11, 2011, 09:10:05
Jayb did you polish the tray for the photo?...

For sure :P

I picked the few berries I had last year, Russian Banana and Blue Russian a bit before their time, due to the start of blight on some other potatoes nearby. I kept the berries inside to ripen for a while; they have a remarkable sweet scent when ripe and the pods had gone a bit squidgy. I blitzed mine in a liquidiser with a couple of cups of water and then strained off all the bits. I used the liquidizer method but I could have squeezed them out and rinsed them in a fine sieve. They can be left to dry as you would tomatoes, but......

I then followed advice, given I think on another forum, by Tom Wagner, to use a small amount of TSP (Trisodium Phosphate)  to clean the seeds, followed by a bleach wash and then I think it was a hot rinse! This is to help remove germination inhibitors and hopefully kill any viruses. I’ll see if I can find a link as I found it really interesting.

You can skip the above and have good results, but from what I understand germination may take a little longer and be a bit sporadic.
Even if you leave the berries and they go hard, you can still get the seeds out after a quick soak.

Lol, yes I’ve found it a very enticing bug so watch out!
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on March 11, 2011, 17:18:16
well my seeds arrived today, I'll get sowing them over the weekend. The excitement, and no doubt questions start here  ;D

Actually while on the subject of questions, I've been reading various bits on the subject and am wondering about pollination. any chance of a SIMPLE explanantion  ;)

I noticed berries on my Salad Blues last year, but was obviously in dozy land at the time  ::)

1066  :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 12, 2011, 23:25:24
Yayyyy that was quick, they sound a super variety. I think if you are growing Tom’s TPS they are very likely to be able to set berries.

Your question appeared simple to start but as I write it seems to me no simple question. So here’s the little I know and probably not put very well....
Not all varieties of potatoes are able to set and make seed. Most varieties here are tetraploid and of those that can set berries most will self pollinate, although if you have other potatoes growing and flowering close by some may cross.

Then it gets more complicated; there are also varieties which are unable to self pollinate mainly it seems the modern ones which have sterile pollen (I think also some are female-sterile). Besides this I’ve not quite got my head around diploid, tetraploid x diploid.

This may give a better idea http://tatermater.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=347

If you wanted to grow some UK potato varieties for TPS, you can do a search at The European Cultivated Potato Database for those most likely to produce berries http://www.europotato.org/search.php

Potato flowers I think are very pretty, I just love the range of colours.  The flowers have similarities to tomatoes and fertilisation can occur before flower buds properly open, as with tomatoes. If you fancy a go at creating your own variety, these may help and inspire
http://tatermater.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=253
http://daughterofthesoil.blogspot.com/2010/06/how-to-breed-your-own-potatoes.html
http://www.science.gc.ca/default.asp?Lang=En&n=C9FF442B-1

Hope I am answering some of your question.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on March 13, 2011, 06:14:59
thanks Jayb and yes it was helpful! Your explanation helps me as I it explains in simple language about those that cross and those that don't, which is where I think I was geting muddled before! I also think where I get muddled is all the info about breeding, and crossing.

Oh, it's going to be a looooong summer  ;)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 15, 2011, 12:26:30
Picture update taken on 12/3 showing first true leaves

[attachment=1]
[attachment=2]

When I was taking the above pictures I noticed a tri-cote and quad-cote (not sure of the proper term  :-\) seedlings.

[attachment=3]
[attachment=4]
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 26, 2011, 08:00:07
Amazing how quickly these grow, I took these pictures on the 20/3, I'll take some more as soon as I get my camera back from a friend.
[attachment=1]
[attachment=2]

Intresting to see the darker stems and almost purple edges to some leaves and I hope this indicates some tubers will have coloured skin and or flesh.

I've potted most of these up, perhaps a bit soon but I had them a little squashed in. I transplanted them as deeply as possible into about 1" modules, leaving just the last leaves showing above the compost, they look to be doing well.

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on May 09, 2011, 13:00:47
Wondering how your TPS are doing?
Mine have been potted on once, and are outside on a sunny windowsill, growth seems very slow at the moment and I'm wondering when I need to move them on.
I also still need to work out where I'll move them onto. Some will have to be in pots as I don't have much space left this year, so I need to figure out the best way to deal with them in pots/ buckets, and to find big enough pots/buckets to cope them.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on May 14, 2011, 13:24:54
Oops sorry a bit slow updating. Mostly it is going well although I think mine would have benefited from being sown a couple of weeks later. I wasn’t quite ready to get them out when they needed it and I think they would have been a little soon re frost. But I could quite easily have covered them with fleece. Some of the poor little things haven’t been potted on as quickly as they should and have suffered a little, they look a bit straggly and in need of a feed. Though I think they will still make serviceable plants just the harvest may be a little reduced and delayed. I’ll try and take some recent pictures in the next day or so.

These pictures are a bit old now but should give an idea how mine have been progressing. These have all either been in a polytunnel or greenhouse (no heating) for the last 4- 6 weeks. I’m not sure why yours should be slow to grow on, could it have been a bit too cool for them?

I’m going to put some of mine into pots too, if space allows. What about using old compost bags turned inside out, not the prettiest but I think would be fine for 2 plants, it can be quite handy to roll the bags up as they grow and makes it quite easy to keep topping the bags up. The tps I planted in a bed last year were roughly a foot apart each way and it seemed to work well, although I’ll try and experiment a little to see what works the best. I used grass clippings to help ‘earth’ them up.

Seedlings after their first potting on taken on 6th April

[attachment=1]

Again about a month later on 2nd May They are just about to be planted out.

[attachment=2]

This Skagit Magic seedling grew at a much faster rate than all the other tps so I potted it up separately, flower buds are just showing again taken on 2nd May

[attachment=3]
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on May 14, 2011, 16:26:00
thanks for the update and the photos  :) Yours look much bigger, but then they were sown earlier and have had the benefit of the polytunnel. Kind of helps me understand what to expect. I like the idea of using compost bags, hadn't thought about putting 2 plants per bag so that would be good too
Think I'll plant mine out next week .....
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Tom Wagner on May 16, 2011, 22:58:10
I really enjoyed reading the posts here lately.  Especially the ones by JayB and 1066.

I linked to some of the pictures of the TPS (True Potato Seed) seedlings on my forum..
tatermater dot proboards dot com.  I  am pleased to see the plugs with multiple seeds per cube as this natural crowding produces the best seedlings for transplanting.  I love the time transitions from sowing to emerging seedlings to plants ready for the first transplanting...very orderly!

The single plant from the Skagit Magic is beautiful and I recognize the plant since it looks much like the original Skagit Magic.  It shows the leaf pattern of the diploid background in the genetic components.  I have over 1,000 full sibs of it here in Washington growing in the greenhouse.  That single plant showing the buds should be a marvelous bloomer just like dear old Mom.

I am hoping the extreme Late Blight resistance will manifest itself among the sib family of Skagit Magic.  I've also sent seed to Wales to a very renown researcher who named the most devastating blight strain...the Blue 13. This researcher will help me connect the dots to hopefully providing data across the UK for blight resistance and juxtapose this information with results from growers in a number of States within the USA.

The coloring of the leaves and stems do...indeed.....portray a glimpse into skin color and flesh color.  Redder stems and more purple stems will suggest red skin and purple skin and light yellow green leaves will portend an orange flesh.  The deeper hues of color along the edges of the leaves can be traced back to ancestors above 10,000 ft. elevation in Peru.  Those are linked genetic traits allowing potatoes to take intense light intensities and even a touch of frost.

My Grandfather Kaighin came from the Isle of Man over a hundred years ago and now my potato seeds are immigrants within the UK.  A good part of my knowledge came from Joe Kaighin...he grew the Up To Date variety just outside of Bride, IOM.

My Great-Great Grandfather Tom Wagner left Luxembourg for the USA partly due to the devastation of the blight on potatoes in his country at the same time as the blight hit Ireland.  The few years following the potato blight was hit hard by a wheat failure. The farms were small since the children inherited the farm equally and who could live on smaller and smaller plots?  They were probably the size of allotments.javascript:replaceText('%20::)',%20document.forms.postmodify.message);

Tom Wagner
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on May 17, 2011, 10:01:19
lovely to hear from you Tom, especially about the history of your family,and the relation to the potato famines across Europe.

I don't think we have any members from the IOM on A4A, lovely part of the country though.

My TPS will be planted out this week, and I'll be sure to keep you updated  :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on May 17, 2011, 12:59:39
I've got some TPS seedlings up now, just about at the end of what they can be left to in their modules, thoguh there are some latecomers just germinating...going to pot them out into bigger pots in the next couple of days, but then where's best?... I can give them pots on an autowatering system or else they can go into the ground on one of the plots....

chrisc
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 17, 2011, 16:48:13
I have four of your Skagit Magic seeds up; I'd be interested to hear more about how these do. I haven't grown TPS before, but if it's a success I'll be after more next winter! I'm hoping for resistance to our local blight strains, as blight's now endemic on my allotment site, and it's extremely difficult to grow anything but earlies.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on May 18, 2011, 08:46:51
Wholeheartedly agree Tom, she is a real beauty, the first flowers are starting to open and yes such a lot of buds in sight.   

Skagit Magic taken 17th May
[attachment=1]

I hope I have understood this right, as a diploid it will not self fertilize.  The only available pollen to me at present is Purple majesty and Orla, which interestingly has “excellent tuber blight resistance” . http://varieties.potato.org.uk/display_description.php?variety_name=Orla So I’m going to have a practice transferring some pollen and hope I get a fruit to set!

1000, Wow what a lot of plants to get in! I guess this may just be the tip of the iceberg too!

Last year late blight was shockingly early here, hit my earlies ouch! Despite the dry weather here, I had notification last week two Full Smith Periods for my area. Makes me a little uneasy and some raises questions of why am I growing so many potatoes and tomatoes?  So huge hopes here too that a Skagit Magic will hold their own. I sincerely wish you every success with your progress with blight resistance.

Tom, really fascinating information, thanks  for sharing your insight to these potato traits . I’m finding it exciting to have a preview which enables me to look at my plants in a whole new way.

I agree with 1066 it is really interesting to hear about your History and in some ways share a tiny bit of it through your crops.
Quote
now my potato seeds are immigrants within the UK

Ah but it is not just potatoes, there's beans and tomatoes too! And I think they are settling in as UK residents just fine.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on May 18, 2011, 08:58:54
Glad they are doing well for you Chrisc, they were my first seeds I processed using TSP and hot water method, it was a bit scary and a leap of faith! The seeds germinated well for me too. though not as close together as Tom's. My plants are perhaps a little ahead of yours, I’ve just been planting out my Rattes, interestingly some already had some mini tubers formed while in their little pots. Tubers were mostly creamy white or yellow, but one or two have red eyes.

Bearing in mind I’m very much a learner here, pot the seedlings up fairly deep (helps for a good crop). I’m planting the majority of mine in the garden, planting them at the bottom of a trench and I'll earth them up as they grow. They really do grow on at a fast pace, I still can’t get over how such a tiny seedling grows into such a large plant and produces tubers too.

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Tattieman on May 18, 2011, 10:40:06
Wow what a great read this is. I tried to save some seed that I had cross pollinated with some Sarpo varieties last year but the wife chucked the seeds out.

I will try and do some more crossing this year and see what happens. I would be interested in late blight resistant varieties.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on May 18, 2011, 12:15:26
Hi Tattieman,

Lol, oh dear! Shame about last years seeds and easily done. Good luck with your crosses this season and better luck finding a safe spot to store them.

I’m pretty sure I bought some Sarpo Mira amongst others from you this year. Have to agree a cross or two would be good.

I noticed on your site a little while back a small bit on ‘seeds’ seed potatoes and wonder if you have plans to be selling them in the future, if indeed the EU has not put a stop to that?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Tattieman on May 18, 2011, 14:57:26
Hi Tattieman,

Lol, oh dear! Shame about last years seeds and easily done. Good luck with your crosses this season and better luck finding a safe spot to store them.

I’m pretty sure I bought some Sarpo Mira amongst others from you this year. Have to agree a cross or two would be good.

I noticed on your site a little while back a small bit on ‘seeds’ seed potatoes and wonder if you have plans to be selling them in the future, if indeed the EU has not put a stop to that?


Now that would be interesting to sell them but I do not know what the laws would be.  We are registered seed merchants but would the EU allow TSP to be sold. Harvesting would be alot of work and how do you guarantee that the seed is what it is meant to be.

It would be really great to do as we could probably export worldwide but if David and Simon have some of these seeds at their research centre in Bangor then some may be available soon as seed potatoes.

I would like to try and develop some new blight resistant varieties and some fancy coloured flesh varieties but as you say I need a safe place to store the seed ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on July 15, 2011, 14:12:21
Hi, wondering about how everyone's TPS are doing. Some of mine have started to form flower buds, not open yet..... the excitement starts  ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 15, 2011, 18:52:34
Mine were planted in May; they're in 4-inch pots, with a lot of variation in the amount of growth. Some are going  like mad. I'll be putting them out soon.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on July 16, 2011, 06:15:35
Yes I've noticed a variation in growth, some were leaping ahead, and I did wonder if they were struggling for water, but they've been well mulched, and I have been watering them (occaisionally). I did notice that once they were out of their pots and in the ground they romped away very quickly.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 16, 2011, 15:02:00
Its great to hear your updates. Have to agree growing TPS is exciting and fun, I especially like the not quite knowing what you are going to get. I've noticed the differences in growth too and some varieties seem more varied than others.

I was sorting some pictures to add to the thread yesterday but got distracted looking for some info about Black bog. I’m growing these from tubers this year but early signs are these should be good for some berries.  http://irishseedsavers.ie/supporters/maincrop.php

Really pleased with the varieties I’m growing from Tom Wagner. Lots of flowers at the moment and I’m fingers crossed for berries. I’m trying not to get too excited but I have a patch of Skagit Magic alongside Cocoon Khuchi and these are the most advanced, both look to have lots of berries yayyyyyyy

Other Tps I've sown; Red Cara, Ratte, Russian Blue and Russian Banana have come on a treat and have some have lovely flowers, although this weather is not going to help.

I’ve also been trying my hand at making some crosses which is soooooooooooooo much fun. Early days yet but I’m hopeful some will take.

pictures to follow

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 16, 2011, 19:57:57
I don't know whether I'm in time to get berries, maybe I'm more likely to get seed potatoes. The main thing is to see what comes through the inevitable blight - hopefully some will - and breed from them next year. Now I know how to grow TPS, I'll probably get more for next year.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on July 17, 2011, 08:27:55
THe ones I've got seem to cover a broad spectrum, a couple of real runts but also some that are looking very healthy indeed. Russian Blue stock generally better than Ratte stock, I've got some spare seed left over that I will sow next year a bit earlier hopefully, getting quite excited cos there were small tubers apparent on both sorts at the last transplant when they went from 4" pots up into the biggies they're in now.... will be doing a final earth up next week....

chrisc
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 17, 2011, 10:42:54
I noticed last year that the really straggly plants didn’t go on to do much, or not in the time frame they had.

Robert, do your plants look close to flowering? I was late planting some of my tubers this year and some have buds just opening others are a couple of weeks away from flowering. I’m still hopeful if they avoid blight and set fruit there is time for berries to mature enough to produce seed.

I wonder if you keep a couple in their pots if that will shock them into producing mini tubers and flowering a bit sooner? It will certainly be interesting to have an idea of a cutoff date for berry production.

I know what you mean Chrisc, I can’t wait for harvest time! I did have a couple of mini pots of Ratte, R. Blue and R.Banana growing (no space to plant them out), which have produced some small little mini tubers. I was going to eat them at first but decided to save them and see what they are capable of producing next year-if they store that long!
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 17, 2011, 16:43:46
Nowhere near flowering yet. I hadn't thought of keeping them in pots, but I have some big ones which would do it. The main thing is to get something I can keep till next year!
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on July 17, 2011, 22:41:24
they are a bit addictive aren't they! There's me thinking of cutting back on the spuds we grow at the same time pondering what other TPS I could try  ::)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 17, 2011, 23:31:56
The most important thing from my angle is the chance of getting blight resistant spuds!
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on July 18, 2011, 15:12:13
hope you are successful Robert. Fingers crossed

After the weekend's rain, the TPS have shot up, more earthing up/mulching needed.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 23, 2011, 09:49:40
The most important thing from my angle is the chance of getting blight resistant spuds!

That would be beyond words.

I'm hopeful to have berries from Skagit Magic, I guess selfed or maybe Cocoon Khuchi, if you want some of these later in the year?  I have a few SM x Bluebell which look to be swelling and growing well, makes me wonder if I did not emasculate them early enough?! I've not been able to make any crosses recently, either too wet or windy, mostly both. But today looks a good one for trying for a cross or two. I have some flowering Sarpo Mira and PFA I'd like to use amongst others.

After the weekend's rain, the TPS have shot up, more earthing up/mulching needed.

Lots of rain here too. I need to get on with some more mulching! I planted my seedlings out at roughly 12-18 inches in the row, I think next year I'll space them further apart again, wider apart rows too.


Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 23, 2011, 09:52:44
If all goes well I’d like to add some TPS to the seed circle for people to try, although I’m not sure if it is something that interests many people? I hope it does  :)

I’m also planning to offer some seed in the swap thread, to folk who are interested later in the year. I still have a couple of varieties saved from last year which could be shared along with some from this year. Maybe if a few different people have saved tps we can make it into a tps seed bank/circle?
What do you think?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on July 23, 2011, 09:59:05
YEEEEES !...for TPS.... ;D ;D ;D ;D  ;)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: pumkinlover on July 23, 2011, 10:01:22
A tad excited there Anja? ;)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on July 23, 2011, 10:02:41
I've been eyeing those multi coloured 'native' potato seeds since this post started and the link to the the new world crops was posted here.
I'm wondering how they would do over here.. ???
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on July 23, 2011, 10:12:15
Code: [Select]
A tad excited there Anja ? A tad? I'm nearly wetting myself for excitement.. :-X ;D ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 23, 2011, 10:42:32
I've been meaning to post pictures for ages, looks like I've wiped/lost the ones I wanted. But these should give the general idea.

Following on from sowing seed indoors in the spring, transplanting the little seedlings in pots, sometimes twice.They were ready for planting out.

I've been planting mine in a trench pretty much as I would have a tuber and earthing up as they grow.

[attachment=1]

Some of the plants were quite advanced, this one has quite a few mini tubers forming. The pot size is roughly 2''x2'', if I had kept this plant in the pot, chances are many of those little tubers would have ripened (still very small) which would be handy for mini tubers for next year. If I had of used a slightly bigger pot to grow them in then similarly the tuber size would have been slightly bigger. As it is this was planted out in the ground and I'm hopeful they will go on to produce an OK crop. I wonder if I will recognise them when dug, they look quite distinctive here, purple skin with white splashes.
[attachment=2]

This is a little white flowered Skagit Magic seedling, most of the ones I have are different shades of purple flowers. Foliage is paler too although still some purple pigment on the stems.

[attachment=3]
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: louise stella on July 23, 2011, 12:06:30
Oooh I am off to dig some spuds and I am sure I noticed some setting seed!  I so want to try this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 23, 2011, 13:56:20
YEEEEES !...for TPS.... ;D ;D ;D ;D  ;)

Glad you are keen  ;D It will be great if we can get several different varieties together.


I've been eyeing those multi coloured 'native' potato seeds since this post started and the link to the the new world crops was posted here.
I'm wondering how they would do over here.. ???

So far they are doing really well, what is happening underground is another matter!

Tom lives in Seattle. I'm guessing from the little I know, climate won't be too far off much of the UK, so they should do well from that point. Jeannine would know more as she is quite close to him in distance.

I have a mixture of Tom’s varieties growing so a super exciting year for me. I'm hoping I'll see lots of different types, I'm sure some will do better than others and who knows on taste.....but my mouth is watering at the thought!

But I'm also thinking we have some fantastic UK available varieties that will produce berries.   I know I chose some of my varieties around being able to produce berries. One of which is the modern variety Bluebell, the tubers look stunning and they have a good chance of setting some berries as a bonus. I've also used these in a few crosses (Up To Date and Black Bog both Heritage varieties as well as Tom’s Skagit Magic).  Last year I was sent some Ratte and Red Cara tps, they are growing really well, I’ve a few pictures to add of them growing.

Oooh I am off to dig some spuds and I am sure I noticed some setting seed!  I so want to try this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go for it  ;D
Any idea what variety the berries are from? The little pods need a chance to ripen before picking, a minimum of 6-8 weeks, longer if you can. Then if needed they can be ripened further indoors. Eventually they soften and give off quite a strong sweet scent, you will know it when you smell it.

Just thought I'd add a reminder potato seed pods are poisonous if eaten.

Edit; forgot a  ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on July 23, 2011, 16:06:33
Code: [Select]
A tad excited there Anja ? A tad? I'm nearly wetting myself for excitement.. :-X ;D ;D


LOL !!!  :D

Thanks for the updates Jayb, appreciated as ever.  :)
Yes to sharing the seeds, but it does depend on what I manage to get.  I have Blue Salad, Ratte, Belle De Fontanay and Mayan Gold nearby, so we'll see what happens, with any potential crosses etc. Some of these are starting to flower now, so I'm hoping the TPS get's a move on soon.

i got my seeds from Tom, and I said I'd send him some back so he can see what they are like. Which would be very exciting......

10  :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: louise stella on July 23, 2011, 17:03:04
OOohhhh I have berries from Kidneys (Jersey Royals) and Pink Fir Appple - they are growing next to each other so if they have crossed it could be interesting!
 SO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What do I do now???????
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jeannine on July 23, 2011, 19:13:24
Just wondering here. I got tubers from Tom which went in late but are growing well..maybe I should try to save seed from those and send them over to you folks.

The list of varieties is long as I got the large sample box , I shared on the duplicates with two folks but  there is  lot of different varieties  currently growing.

Sarp Eye//light red
Kingston /white
Agraria Blue/blue
Skagit Laverston.lavender with yellow spectacles
Escanard River/red skin with red flesh
La Ratte,yellow white
Saturna Early/light yellow
Druid/white
Nordic JT/red
Manistow River/red skin red flesh
Brevert River/violet
Pigs Dont Lie
Sarpo Rolly
Front Man
Dakotah John Tom/light red
Aggie Blue/blue
LB-1 /white
Ozette/bumpy and white
Atlantic/white
Cosignin/yellow with purple eyes
I 1038/white
reiche Kaighan/yellow
Anyas Dream/white
Red Chieftan/Bright Red
Papo Cacho Long/Red with red flesh
Sarpo Lou
Mura white with blue splashes

the above are all in a very high bed, quite isolated from the other gardens and well mulched with straw. There is only one of each planted and I have about three gaps so a few didn't make it but I will take the map with me today and find out which they are.

Below is what I have in pots adjacent to the greenhouse..not on garden soil but closer to other potatoes.
Cheiftan
Cal White
Pink Fir Apple
Red Thumb




I then have 4 large pots with Charlottes planted 2 to a pot which were planted on Jyly !st.These were not from Tom.

I don't know how much successs I will have as they were planted very very late and blight here is a problem but if they do put out seeds I will happilly share them.


XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on July 23, 2011, 19:20:29
B....y  h..l  Jeannine..that is some list.. :o
I take it you like potatoes then.. ;D
I've been eyeing few varieties from new world seeds..La Pan, Land Races, Yungay and Suytu Vilguina..
do you think those 'wild' potatoes would do ok in uk?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: pumkinlover on July 23, 2011, 19:53:44
I am not reading this thread.
I am not reading this thread.
I am not reading this thread.
I am not reading this thread......
I am not...........

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on July 24, 2011, 00:36:58
I am not reading this thread.
I am not reading this thread.
I am not reading this thread.
I am not reading this thread......
I am not...........


he he he he ...... you know you want to..........  :)

Jeannine, I just love the name "pigs don't lie" Tom's a star!
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: pumkinlover on July 24, 2011, 08:48:27
Jeannine- I notice the sarpo name on some of the varieties-
Are these new ones we don't get here or are they the same but a different name?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 24, 2011, 14:11:32
1066  ;D You should have some super berries from amongst those varieties. I reckon you are in for a treat with Ratte tps. I robbed a few little tubers to try yesterday along with some Red Cara ones, gorgeous.
 
The variety you had from Tom sounds really interesting and not one he had listed on his site. So Exciting I wonder how they will taste? Super to be sending some back across the pond  ;D


Excellent news Louise stella, both super varieties, IMO and a cross would be really fantastic too. If you have enough seeds you may want to swap some seeds for another variety or two.

What do I do now???????
Now you need to wait for the berries to ripen enough to be able to harvest them for seed. I tie a piece of red wool around stems that have berries, easier to find later on. I tend to use the plants without berries first, or just have a firkle underneath and take a few.
The little pods need a chance to ripen before picking, a minimum of 6-8 weeks, longer if you can. Then if needed they can be ripened further indoors. Eventually they soften and give off quite a strong sweet scent, you will know it when you smell it.

Just thought I'd add a reminder potato seed pods are poisonous if eaten.

I’ve got a couple of pods that got knocked off by accident ripening on an inside windowsill. I’m hoping they were mature enough to have seeds inside. I’ll leave them until they are soft and squidgy.

Stunning list Jeannine, lets hope for berry overload  ;D


Goodlife, So far La Pan, Land Races, Yungay are all doing well in Wales. I’m not growing Suytu Vilquina this year so can’t comment on them yet.


LOL at Pumpkinlover yes grow some, you know you should  :P

The varieties on Jeannine’s list with the name Sarpo are varieties bred by Tom from British Sarpo varieties. They were not bred at the Bangor Reaserch Centre. Although I believe they are working with one (might be more?) of Tom’s TPS varieties  Skagit Magic, fingers crossed they breed further blight resistant varieties.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 24, 2011, 14:29:51
Some progress pictures of Red Cara TPS

Just starting to really get going, seed was orignally sown at the begining of March, this picture is from June 12th
[attachment=1]

First flower buds visable
[attachment=2]

First flowers blooming on the 15th of July.
[attachment=3]

I firkled a sampling of tubers yesterday, Yum yum yum
Ooops eaten before a picture taken! A mixture of tubers, mostly all white although some with pink around the eyes. One plant had a very rough skin and another discoloured brown? Taste of the small new tubers was good, tasty waxy types that boiled well, no discolouration of cooked flesh.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 24, 2011, 14:46:03
Skagit Magic flowers and berries just starting to form, this is a Diploid plant, not self compatable although it can cross with full siblings. The berries are quite pointy.  This one was sown begining of March and this picture is dated 21/6.

[attachment=1]

Russian Blue seed pod, much more rounded and typical of a Tetraploid potato.

[attachment=2]

Pretty in White, fading blooms of the variety Black Bog. A really good setter of seed pods, the ones with blue thread are crossed to Bluebell.

[attachment=3]

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jeannine on July 24, 2011, 19:09:45
I believe the ones from Tom that have sarpo in the name are crosses he has made.

I will save as much as I can from those plants that put out seed so you lot oiver there can have it.

Fingers crossed..all together  now LOL

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on July 26, 2011, 08:38:03
The flowers on the Howie Mandel have started to open  ;D  8)
[attachment=1]

The colour variations on the stems is really noticeable, looking forward to seeing and tasting all the differences  :)

A collective fingers crossed is needed
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 26, 2011, 15:30:17
It looks like it is going to be a stunner  ;D
Ooowha, I just bet the tubers are going to be so exciting to dig. Like getting lots of fantastic mystery gifts.
Fingers crossed
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: green lily on July 26, 2011, 21:04:33
I'd be thrilled [and honoured] to receive some tps if anyone as some to spare. All I have to offer perhaps is some seed from pink fir apple. I have one or two fruits but not many but I'll try to process it properly.. Nicola had hardly any flowers- I think I saw 2 between 20 plants... I'm completely new to tps but am fascinated to try so If I could be included pleez? :) :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on July 27, 2011, 09:32:25
One of my TPS Russian Blue is flowering, generally the Russian Blue are doing better than the TPS Ratte, one of which has died.... always been a runt, keeled over when I was away at a festival for the weekend..... Not going to firkle as have only just started teh second earlies from the plopt.... my word the slugs like Salad Blue.... grr,,,,
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 27, 2011, 10:03:57
Hi Green lily, yes please join in, it will be great to hear your progress, I'm quite envious of your PFA  ;D
I think Pink Fir Apple tps would be fantastic to grow and a great variety to share. Lets hope they ripen well. I'm hoping mine might produce a berry or two, but we will have to see. Don't worry I'm pretty much a newbie to TPS. I grew my first variety last year and it has snowballed from there. I love them ;D

I looked up Nicola at British potato Database http://varieties.potato.org.uk/display_description.php?variety_name=Nicola they list it as a berry absent variety. With only two flowers it does seem to be a tad shy in that department.


Chrisc, I had one of my Rattes get wiped out quite soon after being planted out. A mixture of me keeping them too long in small pots and slugs. Out of interest I dug where it was and found a small handfull of mini tubers. These must have been produced very early on.

I've not grown Salad Blue but I understand they set berries well, lets hope the slugs don't damage too much.

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: green lily on July 27, 2011, 21:24:34
You've made my day folks. Had 3 cortisone jabs in my back today :o :o and I'm still a bit legless. But I'm told it'll be worth it and I'll be fit for potato work etc. Mind you had a good bash outside yesterday even if I did have to take the hit afterwards...... ;D ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on July 28, 2011, 07:09:53
Ouch, cortisone is horrid! Hope you are feeling better today  :)

I remember seeing berries on the Blue Salads last year, and being dim didn't really think much about it  :-X so lets hope we see some berrie sthis year  :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 30, 2011, 13:57:17
Hope you are feeling a little better green lily  :o

10, I love this looking back too  ;D

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 30, 2011, 14:08:17
More flower piccy's

Ratte, this is the only one of mine to flower. A couple of berries look to be set, one is a cross to Blue Belle which might be fun.           [attachment=1]

Pink Fir Apple looks lovely in white although I aways thought pink flowers would be good here.
[attachment=2]

Red Cara grown from TPS, open flower are similar to mom, but buds look white, whilst other siblings show pinky white.
[attachment=3]
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on July 30, 2011, 16:07:43
I haven't managed any crosses yet, that's a job for next week.....
In the meantime I noticed today a couple of berres on teh Desiree  :D

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on July 30, 2011, 22:00:18
Yayyyy for Desiree  ;D

I think I should say beware, like everyting else to do with tps, potato breeding/crosses is an addictive activity. It starts of harmlessly enough with one or two crosses and before you know it is a full time obsession! I can't walk past a potato plant without looking for buds, flowers or berries. I even woke up the other morning dreaming of what crosses to make  :o

I did take some photos last week while I was making some crosses although I've hesitated to post them as I'm not really sure if I'm doing things right. I hope I'm not too far off the mark. I'll try and post them tomorrow.

Love to know some of the crosses you have in mind?  ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jeannine on July 31, 2011, 04:11:24
Just touching base here, thought i would share with you that everyone around me at my lottie is now very carefully watching their spuds for for fruit and as long as I tell them what to do with them they are going to share LOL so we could end up with all sorts of things..next door has got Russetts and an unknown spud that has been in the family for decades apparently, chap accross the path has one he describes as
 "Butter Something"  it could be a lark growing thos lot on don't you think!!

There has been some blight seen on the plots so I am getting a wee bit scared but all my fingers are crossed

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: green lily on July 31, 2011, 21:22:17
Thanks for your good wishes folks. I am about but hardly racing yet. I was warned it would get worse before better and may take  fortnight ::
Very muggy here tonight and I fear the dreaded blight will get the spuds and tomatoes. I sprayed last weekend but haven't anymore stuff or quite the stamina to do it yet.
BTW caught grandson removing potato berries- 'you can't eat them' :o....[ he won't do it again.. ::)] but my mini stock is even less now  :(
Hope other people are having more luck!
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: John85 on August 01, 2011, 09:49:19
Where can I find out if a variety is diploid or tetraploid?What about Sharpo?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on August 01, 2011, 21:12:12
Glad you saw what your grandson was up to Green lily :o


Where can I find out if a variety is diploid or tetraploid?What about Sharpo?

Sarpo Mira etc are tetraploid.

I don't think there is a list as such, pretty much all uk potato varieties are tetraploid. Diploids varieties are Mayan gold and the other mayan series, also I think a couple of the Inca ones eg Inca Bella.

This site lists many available european varieties, look out for varieties listed as Solanum phureja rather than the regular Solanum tuberosum L.
http://www.europotato.org/menu.php
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on August 01, 2011, 21:14:49
Oops, mind my manners, Hello and Welcome to the site John, hope you enjoy  ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: green lily on August 01, 2011, 21:59:11
Well Jayb what stunning photos of your tps flowers! You must be really thrilled. I do hope you get a good set. With this sudden muggy weather it looks as if leaf trimming my PFAs isn't going to be enough. I reckon I'll have to cut them right down by the end of the week, Night temperatures of 17-18c will give us 3 Smith periods on top of one another.... :(  [- However it has cheered my little pumpkin up   ;D]
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on August 23, 2011, 14:46:57
Arrrrgh blight. I noticed a couple of small patches starting on a few potato leaves a couple of weeks ago in the middle of my potato bed. I’ve cleared those immediately, then the leaves and stems of most of my potatoes, leaving a few (hopefully) resistant varieties (Sarpo Mira, Sarpo Kifli and Toluca). I’ve picked all the potato berries I could find, I’m not sure if some are a bit young and or if they will develop blight in storage. At the moment my plan is to leave them ripening indoors for as long as possible before processing for seed.  I’m keeping an eye on the still growing Sarpo Mira and Sarpo Kifli berries I crossed pollinated, I hope they have a chance to mature.

Most of my potatoes grown from Tom’s tps are in another patch about 15-20 foot away, a couple have harvestable berries but many are flowering and only have small pods forming which sadly will be too young to save. I’m fingers crossed I will be able to harvest some tubers or mini tubers to grow on next year.

I think in a morbid sort of way I’m interested to see if any of these varieties are resistant to our UK blight strains. I’m hopeful some of the Skagit Magic plants may be resilient. I’ve collected some berries which seem to be ripening nicely. I’ve no idea if any have produced tubers yet.

In another spot in the garden I have plants grown from tps Red Cara, Ratte, Russian Banana and Russian blue. Red Cara have grown particularly well and also have berries though these need a few more weeks yet before they are ready. I have also used them for several crosses.

Some of the berries I’ve picked
[attachment=1]

Skagit Magic
[attachment=2]


Green lily, sorry to here about your PFA, know the feeling.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on August 23, 2011, 17:22:31
sorry to hear about the blight Jayb  :'(

I'm still hanging on in there, the berries are way too small still to collect, so I'm hoping I get something.......

tried a few tubers the other day from the Howie Mandel - a little floury, but nice

[attachment=1]
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on August 24, 2011, 21:49:37
Seems I'm on blight highway, never fails  :'( Though it is much later than last year, which I guess is a bonus.
Still regardless of harvest I've had a great deal of fun and delight growing tps and making crosses etc. The flowers are a joy and are worthy of a place in the flower bed  ;D

Howie Mandel look super spuds and a good haul too ;D
Fingers crossed for the berries.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on September 07, 2011, 22:30:33
I meant to post these pictures etc a while back, but hey ho that’s the way it goes sometimes.

Inspired by Tom, I have been dabbling with making some crosses using the potato varieties I’m growing. This is a first for me and I found the larger size of flower easier to work with than Tomatoes. I can say it is fun and very very addictive. As a reward I have some berries yayyyy, which gives me hope! I look forward to next year’s sowing season (I know, counting chickens.....)

My pictures and description may not be the best, but it seems to work for me. Any tips advice etc is very welcome.

First collecting pollen, I found it simplest to collect in a small shallow dish, black makes it easier to see the pollen which is a pale creamy white colour. I’ve been choosing newly opened flowers and collecting in the morning to mid day. The pollen is released from the anther cone which is usuallya bright yellow to orangey yellow colour as in the second picture, top right. A dry calm day is really best, to my dismay I’ve found a puff of wind leaves your collecting dish empty! Also to be avoided high humidity/rain which makes the pollen grains clump together and stick inside the anther cone.

[attachment=1]

Not all varieties seem to shed pollen, I was unable to collect any from Up to Date or Kestrel. I’ve been using my electric toothbrush to shake the flower heads to release their pollen.  Positioning the flower over the dish quite close to its surface, or the pollen will fly off (You can do this with tomatoes too) alternatively light taps to the back of the flower should do the trick.

Next the flower bud, this is the variety called Tibet from the Irish Seed Savers. I hope this shows the right stage to use, petals are still firmly closed but the usually green sepals are opening up. The holes in the anther cone that shed pollen will not have opened yet.

[attachment=2]

Some varieties are easier to emasculate than others and the entire anther cone will lift off easily in one go by gently squeezing and pulling it with a pair of tweezers. But this variety didn’t want to play ball (and I need more practice) here I’ve started to remove part of the anther cone which comes in 5-7 segments, you can see the position of the centrally placed stigma and style. I’ve managed to knock a fair few off which is a little frustrating!

[attachment=3]
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on September 07, 2011, 22:42:02
A bit more to add;

Some varieties I have not bothered to emasculate as they don’t appear to set berries even when they have had a good dose of their own pollen. If I am ‘selfing’ or pollinating one I’ve not emasculated I’ve found it easier to remove some of the length of petal. This I think makes it easier to dip the stigma in pollen.  I use my fingernails to just pinch some of the petal off.

[attachment=1]

Here the entire anther cone has been removed; the ovary, stigma and style is visible. You can see where the anther cone was attached. This when fertilized will go on to form the berry containing seeds.

[attachment=2]

Stigmas just dipped in pollen, I’ve been using coloured cotton tied around the flower stem to track pollen used for crosses. I think next year I’ll keep a log of what and when also, it has been a bit of guess work wondering if the berries are ripe enough to harvest.

[attachment=3]
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: carbonel11 on September 08, 2011, 06:51:35
That's fascinating Jayb and thank you for the detailed and useful description of the entire process. I may give it a go next year but also it gives me an excuse to collect some more interesting potato varieties and the research will give me something to do in the winter months. The photos are great.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on September 08, 2011, 10:09:46
Thanks Jayb for a great description and photos.  8)

However, my berries are not looking great, so few have actually made it to a later stage, and I'm leaving them on for as longs as possible. Not looking great at this end......
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: small on September 08, 2011, 10:13:52
Thanks for those fascinating pics and detailed descriptions. It's not something I can see myself doing but I do appreciate enthusiasm and the determination to carry things through.  Bit worried about the toothbrush though....
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jeannine on September 08, 2011, 21:08:23
I got berries yesterday from Nordic JT and Mura..from Tom's spuds

XX Jeannine
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on September 09, 2011, 12:46:47
Carbonel11, I'll be offering some tps seeds later this month or maybe next, if you fancy trying them next spring. Might bridge the gap while you wait for yours next year  :)

Fingers Crossed 10.
I think it is pushing it to be able to save tps in the same season as tps is sown, when you take the weather and blight in to account! Some of mine have which is great, others not  :(

Thanks small  :), I can really see they are not for everyone. 
Bit worried about the toothbrush though....
lol,  works a treat  ;D

Excellent news Jeannine
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on September 13, 2011, 13:37:10
I’ve just been thinking about how best to go about sharing/swapping seed. ( Could call it the TPS bank!)

So far I’ve started a list using Google docs as it is easy to update rather than having to keep reposting info. I’ll open a thread in the seed swap with details and a link.

I just wondered if anyone has any TPS seed they would like to donate or swap. The more varieties available the better it will be. If you want to deposit your swaps until we have (if we have) a few more varieties it might work out better that way, more choice.

I guess the swap will work along the lines; Person A has collected 5 x 50 seeds of PFA which they would like to swap for...  A sends me their seeds which I’ll then list as available. Requested seeds are posted to A.

These are the varieties I’ve processed so far;

Blue Belle and Russian Blue (although the seed circles get first shout, there still should be plenty for spares)
Cocoon Khuchi, (a diploid variety)
Bolivian Yellowhesh x Black Bog, (both these varieties originally came from ISSA)
Skagit Magic (diploid)
Tibet.
I’ve more varieties of berries ripening indoors which I’ll add when they are ready.

Let me know what you think.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on September 14, 2011, 08:09:02
a great (if not bonkers) idea Jayb  8)
I won't participate as I don't have many and it's my 1st attempt so I want to see what I get from my own beofre I venture into swapping. But I'll read with interest  :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on September 14, 2011, 08:49:22
a great (if not bonkers) idea Jayb  8)

You may be right  ;D (I think I have a serious TPS addiction!)

ps should have added above, no worries if you don’t have any TPS to swap, you'll still be able to request seed to try, but please send a SAE.

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on September 26, 2011, 08:01:27
I'm not sure if this page has been mentioned on here before..but good site for parentage of different varieties..and if the variety makes berries etc...
http://www.europotato.org/menu.php (http://www.europotato.org/menu.php)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 26, 2011, 19:47:23
Good idea, though mine haven't got as far as seed. I'm hoping for some small tubers I can grow on next year.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on September 28, 2011, 00:41:21
well, the results are finally in  :D
From Tom Wagner's gift of  TPS - Howie Mandel back in March I'm now the proud owner of loads of delicious of potatoes,

[attachment=1]
[attachment=2]
[attachment=3]
[attachment=4]

As you can see they are a real mixed bag, from white skins, through to pinky-white, onto pinky-rose, then to a deep purple elongated shape, and finishing with almost purple-black.

My seed saving attempts are looking rather sorry for themselves, only a few berries made it. I hope to get some viable seeds to sow next year, and to send some back to Tom.

The TPS were extremely prolific, producing lots of potatoes, but as I had to dig them up a lot hadn't reached full size, and could be classed as tiddlers!

The plan is to try and use some of the seed from the berries, and also to save a few tubers for replanting next year.

The biggest lesson I've learnt growing TPS is to start them off early, and that includes planting them out early so they have enough time to develop properly.

The real bonus has been that they are almost 100% free from slug damage and didn't suffer from blight. RESULT!

So once again a big thanks to Tom  and I think they enjoyed their seaview  ;D

And to Jayb for starting this on A4A  8)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on September 28, 2011, 21:41:28
They look super and sound great, "100% free from slug damage and didn't suffer from blight", result!

How are you going to pick which of them to grow next year?

It's a really useful site thanks for posting it Goodlife.

Good idea, though mine haven't got as far as seed. I'm hoping for some small tubers I can grow on next year.

Me too  ;D
I've got plenty of Tps from SkM if you need some more Robert. Some of my plants have had blight and look just about dead others in the row although some damage, are still flowering! Downside is they seem to be very shy to set tubers. I had a small taste of some yesterday, I was surprised the tubers were white some with purple eyes. Taste was good, they boiled well and quite waxy.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: 1066 on September 29, 2011, 16:49:14
my plan, if you can call it that, is to save a few tubers from each of the different colours. And then remember to write down what I planted where! hmmmmm, wondering how that will turn out  ::)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on September 29, 2011, 19:36:42
I've got plenty of Tps from SkM if you need some more Robert. Some of my plants have had blight and look just about dead others in the row although some damage, are still flowering! Downside is they seem to be very shy to set tubers. I had a small taste of some yesterday, I was surprised the tubers were white some with purple eyes. Taste was good, they boiled well and quite waxy.


I'd be extremely grateful. It's been a good year for blight (from our point of view, not the blight's!), but if we keep selecting we should hopefully get some really resistant strains.

Shyness to develop tubers could be dealt with by crossing with other varieties, but it may be better to take it one step at a time and aim for a resistant strain first.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on October 05, 2011, 11:25:40
I'd be extremely grateful. It's been a good year for blight (from our point of view, not the blight's!), but if we keep selecting we should hopefully get some really resistant strains.

Shyness to develop tubers could be dealt with by crossing with other varieties, but it may be better to take it one step at a time and aim for a resistant strain first.

I'm hoping that I'll have a few promising looking tubers to start fairly early next year, I think it will make a big difference.

I did manage a couple of crosses using Skagit Magic, one is to Sarpo Kifli. I was a bit cross I accidentillly snapped the stem on these before they were ready. I've put them to ripen further and I'm hopeful I'll be able to harvest a few seed from this cross. I'm not sure what to expect from growing a Diploid x tetraploid next year. If I have enough seeds I'll share if anyone is interested.



my plan, if you can call it that, is to save a few tubers from each of the different colours. And then remember to write down what I planted where! hmmmmm, wondering how that will turn out  ::)

I've not been able to prove it, but I suspect the Plant List Pixy is to blame in these sort of matters! They seem to be found dotted around and strike when you least suspect, I'm still looking for a solution.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on October 05, 2011, 11:56:11
Last week I dug my tps Red Cara and Ratte, nice selection of types that look quite close to the mother plant, I think most likely these are seeds from selfed plants. Some plants produced poorly others were much better, overall I am really pleased with the crop and useful size of potatoes. I'm even happier that the ones I've sampled, so far all have been tasty spuds.

Quite a few plants went on to set pods, some flowers I used in a few crosses. A shame blight struck before I could harvest all of them.

TPS grown Ratte tubers
[attachment=1]

TPS Red Cara
[attachment=2]
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on October 05, 2011, 12:57:18
Will be tipping out my remaining pots this weekend, about half the Ratte adn the Russian Blues left to come. There were a couple fo vigiourous plants in there so hopefully I'll have some decent tubers to play with.

I've collected some berries from my own plants, Sarpo Axona, Sarpo Mira and PFA produced some....

chrisc
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on October 05, 2011, 21:15:11
Nice one Chrisc  ;D

The Russian Blue's tps I've tried so far have mostly been blues with some lovely dark flesh colours. A few have been red skinned  and one was white, but I've not tried these yet.

I'm hoping to be sowing some S.Mira and PFA tps next season as well, so I look forward to hearing how you get on with them :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on October 06, 2011, 17:55:19
Several of my Skagit Magic are blooming, a bit late to make seed! Having got to that stage, there should hopefully be a few small tubers in there.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: green lily on October 07, 2011, 21:09:34
I'm coming a bit late to this coz of a difficult month or so :'( but I have saved some berries of PFA despite the blight dodging around and will try my hand at growing something from these.They aren't in any way crosses and I merely used the old fashioned method of stuffing one flower into another to encourage fruiting. Now I've learnt from the experts maybe I'll progress, but one step at a time - literally as my back is deteriorating... But I'm really delighted in reading your posts and congratulations to everyone for such stunning results and great photos to explain and encourage. Wonderful, many thanks to you all. ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: louise stella on October 08, 2011, 10:02:08
I have my seeds and can't wait to try this next spring!  Should I extract the seeds now or leave them in the pods and do it and sew them straight away next spring?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on October 08, 2011, 13:56:25
Yayyyyyy well done Green lily with the PFA berries, I struggled to get just a few of them to set and they are really small ones and I'm not sure the seeds will be ok!

Louise I'm not sure how ripe your pods are but once they have had a chance to mature the seeds are best extracted in preperation for sowing next season.

TPS berries need to have been formed for a minimum of 6 weeks before picking. If they can be left longer all the better. Once picked berries still normally need time to ripen further. Mine are in the spare bedroom and this seems to be working ok.

Picture shows Sarpo Kifli berries, ones on the right are S. Kifli x October Blood and were picked about 2 weeks ago and those on the right S. Kifli x Ratte probably 4 weeks +. You can see how the colour has changed as the berries continue to ripen.  The green looking berries remain hard whereas the x Ratte are starting to soften, they don’t smell very ripe yet so I’ll be leaving these for a while longer.
[attachment=1]

This picture shows freshly picked Skagit Magic x Squat Orange (with orange thread) They will need time to mature before they are ready, I’ll just keep an eye on them to make sure they haven’t been infected with blight.   The other 3 Skagit M berries on the right in the picture are much riper  and were picked a couple of months ago. These 3 are all fairly soft and smell quite strongly, I think it would be ok to extract seed from these. The lightest coloured berry is by far the ripest, quite squishy and very sweetly scented.
[attachment=2]
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: louise stella on October 08, 2011, 14:19:38
Thanks for that Jayb!
So basically - I have to wait for them to go mushy looking first?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on October 08, 2011, 15:52:14
I think anywhere from soft to mushy is good  ;D

Edit to add, Berries giving off a sweetish kind of scent is a givaway sign too.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on October 08, 2011, 22:12:24
Two bits of news.... I have a load of berries that came off Sarpo Mira/Axona (sorry but they're all mixed up)..... anyone who wants some PM me and I'll send a few....

Just tipped out the rest of this years TPS from pots.... two of the Russian BLues are blue fleshed... the one I tried tonight was nice so the rest will mostly be going for growing next year, I name the variety Jayblu, will try the other one tomorrow... One of the Ratte looks productive too so will grow that on if it tastes OK, will try it tomorrow too....

Rest of them didn't amount to much though.... not a bad hit rate though, out of twelve plants I grew here four have turned up intereting.... a pair of blue fleshed decently vigourous croppers, a decent Ratte strain and a potentially early Ratte strain that I've passed on to someone else for propagation....

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: pumkinlover on October 08, 2011, 22:23:23
Is that the ones you sent me Chriscross?
They are keeping cool behind the toilet cistern ;D ;D ;D - that heat wave got me worried!
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on October 09, 2011, 11:49:02
Lol at Jayblu!
Good results fantastic.

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: pumkinlover on October 09, 2011, 13:03:03
Lol at Jayblu!
Good results fantastic.

So it was named after you ;)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on October 09, 2011, 13:39:59
Is that the ones you sent me Chriscross?
They are keeping cool behind the toilet cistern ;D ;D ;D - that heat wave got me worried!


That's the one... you've got the early Ratte...
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on October 09, 2011, 16:06:17
If you have not processed seed pods for seed before, there is quite a lot of info on the web about the best ways to process TPS which is worth Googling for.
 
For a simple method; TPS are coated in a gel which inhibits germination this will reduce in time (year+) but it’s best to try and reduce this a bit more by fermenting seeds in the same way you would for tomatoes. Germination may still be a bit slow and or erratic but better than if the seed are just dried with the gel on.

With just one or two berries I’d probably just cut the berry open and scoop out the flesh and seeds and leave to ferment in a yogurt pot with a little water for about 3 days. before rinsing them and drying on paper. 
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on October 09, 2011, 16:10:21
If doing more berries then I give them a quick whizz in a liquidiser with lots of water. This method works well with tomatillo and Cape gooseberry too. Tps is small enough to go through my sieve into a bowl, much of the debris is left behind. It may need a couple of rinses to get all the seed through.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on October 09, 2011, 16:23:18
Then put the seeds and some of the juice into a container. Leave them to ferment for 3 days or so, the gel needs to breaks up. 

Rinse in several changes of water, good seed will settle in water and any floating seed or chaff can be poured off.  Drain in a suitable seized sieve.

Spread out on paper and leave to dry.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on December 28, 2011, 12:24:11
I’m really quite excited to be starting to think of what TPS I will grow next season.  I still have several crosses with the berries maturing; their scent is really quite strong now. I’ll be harvesting the seed in the next few weeks, although a few look to have got over dried and will need to be soaked first to get at the seed. I have a few Sarpo crosses and some PFA x, which I'm hopeful may provide interesting diversity and any blight resistance would be a dream  ;D

I’m also looking forward to seeing what grows from some of this year’s selfed berries. in particular Blue Belle I hope will be interesting, with some desirable results. Ratte and Red Cara tps gave good results last year, I’ve saved a few tubers to grow on this year.

Also I’ve harvested some mini tubers, mostly Tom W. varieties, sown early last summer, I hope these make good seed tubers for the coming season, some interesting shapes and colours.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: green lily on December 28, 2011, 12:37:35
My goodness haven't you a lot! :o I've saved a few from PFAs and I don't even know if they are viable... I'd be very grateful if you'll keep posting pics as you sow and grow so I can copy an expert ::)Thanks a lot....
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on December 28, 2011, 13:18:41
It does look a lot, although some of the seeds saved were for sharing with the 2 seed circles. I'm no expert, but will try and post some pictures a bit later on, I think I started sowing at the beginning of March last year. Look forward to hearing how you get on, I wonder how diverse PFA seedlings will be. I think some treats in store for you   ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on December 28, 2011, 15:01:39
Now that I've got some of these seed too...I'm really looking forward for sowing them.. ;D ;D
Won't be long now....are we there yet..? ::) ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Hector on December 28, 2011, 16:24:40
I'm quite excited but a bit scared I'll spoil them/muck it up ( you sent them in seed circle JayB)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on December 28, 2011, 19:55:45
I've got the two varieties which went out in the swaps, plus Skagit Magic, plus some SK mini-tubers I saved from last year. This year I want to mix in some other vairieties; maybe PFA, Negresse (horrible name, but it goes back to slavery time), Vitelotte, possibly Congo. If the blight keeps off, or the SK survives it, then I shoulds end up with some interesting seed!
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on December 31, 2011, 14:44:26
are we there yet..? ::) ;D

Not quite  ;D

They are fairly easy to do Hector, a bit like sowing tomatoes, coupled together with just a bit more faffing around than planting a seed tuber.

Sounds like interesting crosses to me Robert, which will give a diverse bunch of seedlings. I'm looking forward to hearing how you get on. I'm not sure if I have any viable seed yet from my Triploid x Diploid crosses. I'm hoping I may end up with a few Skagit Magic crosses; Up To Date x SM, Sarpo Kifli xSM and Tibet x SM. I think I used Squat Orange somewhere too.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on December 31, 2011, 20:01:41
I'll be interested to see whether it works as well! On general principles, if we have blight resistant varieties, then we ought to be trying to breed more and spread the genes around.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on January 02, 2012, 11:14:41
I finally opened the Skagit Magic x berries; Up To Date x two seeds, one sprouting which I've sown. Sarpo Kifli, 2-3 seeds per berry I have about 10 seeds. Tibet, sadly no seeds inside the one pod I had, which is a shame as this variety held up well against late blight this year.

One plant of Tollacan Fiesta showed excellent resilence to LB. I've saved tubers and I'm hoping it does as well agian this year. It would be good to get some TPS from this one.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on January 02, 2012, 21:02:44
I wonder what pollinates potatoes, and what we can do to encourage it. Maybe hand pollination would help.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Tasbound on January 10, 2012, 11:44:54
Hi everyone recently joined the site and have read this thread with interest from start to finish and just wanted to say how much much I admire the enthusiasm and dedication those of you have tried growing from TPS have shown.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: green lily on January 10, 2012, 18:11:31
Well this weekend I'm going to set up the incubator and see whether there's any life in the few TPS I have. I just wonder if Tom Wagner still has his offer of seeds for A4A members of whether anyone has a few seeds to spare so I have a fallback if mine are dead. I worry they were picked too soon, were soaked too long [ one site said soak for 6 days] etc. etc. Guess I'd better get going and find out... ::)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on January 14, 2012, 10:24:56
I wonder what pollinates potatoes, and what we can do to encourage it. Maybe hand pollination would help.

I think potatoes are able to self-pollinate, similarly to tomatoes though not all varieties are self-compatible. Last year I noticed bumble bees and bees were busy with potato flowers early to mid-season. Though I didn’t see many later on I guess they found something they liked better.  Also quite a few, what I think are hover flies.  I didn’t do any hand self-pollinating, but it might make all the difference with a reluctant to set variety.  I did manage several crosses which are fairly straightforward. I found it interesting that no self-pollinated Sarpo Kifli berries formed but nearly every Kifli flower I cross pollinated formed a berry.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on January 14, 2012, 10:29:04
Hi everyone recently joined the site and have read this thread with interest from start to finish and just wanted to say how much much I admire the enthusiasm and dedication those of you have tried growing from TPS have shown.

Sorry I'm a bit slow catching up on this thread.
Hello and welcome to A4A Tasbound, thank you for your post, I'm glad it was of interest. If you are not already planning to can we tempt you to grow some this year  ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on January 14, 2012, 10:54:39
Well this weekend I'm going to set up the incubator and see whether there's any life in the few TPS I have. I just wonder if Tom Wagner still has his offer of seeds for A4A members of whether anyone has a few seeds to spare so I have a fallback if mine are dead. I worry they were picked too soon, were soaked too long [ one site said soak for 6 days] etc. etc. Guess I'd better get going and find out... ::)

Good luck with germinating your seed green lily, I think it is quite early to be starting now, I was thinking more March onwards. But I’m very interested to know how you get on. I have sown a couple of seeds that had started to germinate in the pod as I only have about 8 seeds of that cross, although I doubt it is a desirable trait.

I’ve no idea if Tom’s offer still stands, perhaps worth asking him. I know from his web site he has been unwell for some time, hopefully well on the way to recovery now. If you don’t have success with your seeds I’ve got some available in the swap section and I think ChrisC also made an offer earlier in this thread.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Tasbound on January 14, 2012, 11:33:43
Sorry I'm a bit slow catching up on this thread.
Hello and welcome to A4A Tasbound, thank you for your post, I'm glad it was of interest. If you are not already planning to can we tempt you to grow some this year  ;D

I'd love to but juggling the allotment with work and 3 young kids I don't think I'd be able to do them justice but I'll watch with interest how you guys get on and maybe it's something for the future.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Nigel B on January 14, 2012, 11:34:02
I just spent en enjoyable two cups of tea reading this thread.
I had always wondered if the seeds would produce viable potatoes, and now I know how to cross them too!
Thanks Jayb and everyone who contributed to the thread. It makes a very interesting and informative read.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on January 14, 2012, 13:01:06
I found it interesting that no self-pollinated Sarpo Kifli berries formed but nearly every Kifli flower I cross pollinated formed a berry.

Varieties vary tremendously in their willingness to produce berries; I don't know much about it but I think there may have been some selection against berries in order to divert the plant's energy to tuber production. I believe Tom selects for berries, so there should be plenty on his varieties.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Ananke on February 04, 2012, 03:10:30
I really neglected the TPS that I sowed last year, I planted out two of them and then lifted them too early (I have patience issues)

This is what I have saved from the two plants...
(http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj526/Anankes/IMG_0028.jpg)

They have lived in the salad drawer of the fridge since last summer and I took them out the other week to chit, they are doing nicely and hopefully will produce a few tubers that I can save for next year.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 04, 2012, 09:55:30
Ananke, what is the variety of potato you saved your tps from? They look quite different sorts, I wonder how they are going to taste?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Ananke on February 04, 2012, 14:01:01
These both came from the same 'tattie apple' from a Maris Piper plant.  It amazes me that every single seed in the same pod produces a genetically different potato.

I really do hope I get a good tasting spud from them. 
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: green lily on February 04, 2012, 21:37:12
Well mine are up and going well. In fact I have rather more than I expected... ::)I've now thinned to 4 per module and although germination hasn't been even [probably because I covered the centre ones more thickly] its around 100%.[Or 150%!] So I shall more confidence in future...
I think mine are pure PFAs so whether I'll get any diversity is hard to say.
I've used a Lidl colour LED on them and the onions but am beginning to wean them off now. Now the heatings gone off they'll spend the night on the dining room table.... ;)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 07, 2012, 19:48:18
These both came from the same 'tattie apple' from a Maris Piper plant.  It amazes me that every single seed in the same pod produces a genetically different potato.

Fantastic isn't it  ;D

Every chance they will be tasty spuds  :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 07, 2012, 19:51:58
Sounding good Green lily  :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Nigel B on February 07, 2012, 20:01:39
Hmmm. It seems I must have put my last comment in the wrong thread,,, ???
No matter.
I sowed my own tps seeds yesterday. Indoors and under lights. Not many. Fifteen small blocks with two or three seeds each. I'll weed out the weak ones and try to keep the rest alive.
These threads are rather inspiring you know. I would probably never have tried this if I hadn't seen you folks having a bash.
Good stuff. 8)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: green lily on February 07, 2012, 20:27:01
Don't weed out any unless you've far too many. slower ones often give variety and the fast ones out of the blocks could all be the same. I found germination to be way higher than I expected and had to thin to get space.. I must still have a 100 seedlings and hopefully tomorrow I'll rescue some compost from the poly to warm through so I can move them into bigger modules. I hope yours do well. The next time I have an expert on board I'll try to get some photos posted.....I'm too old to have a computer gene.. ;)
Mine seem pretty tough they were just on the windowsill all day but just bought indoors when curtains closed
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Ananke on February 10, 2012, 02:17:08
These both came from the same 'tattie apple' from a Maris Piper plant.  It amazes me that every single seed in the same pod produces a genetically different potato.

Fantastic isn't it  ;D

Every chance they will be tasty spuds  :)

I hope so Jayb, I'm really enjoying the experiment.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Nigel B on February 12, 2012, 15:45:58
Thanks for the tip green lily. Makes sense when you think about it.

Pretty keen little tatties aren't they? All up and growing away nicely already. :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on February 17, 2012, 13:54:06
Hi Jayb:

Messaging seems to be broken at my end at work....
the Sarpo Fir Apples have arrived safe adn sound, I've got some JayBlu (TPS Russian Blues) and Fortyfold (grown from microtuber last year) to send out to you but I've lost your address.... I'll probably send back about half the TPS you sent me, I know that seed is in short supply adn I don't think I'll be able to grow all of it.... asked around at work and have managed to get a couple of interested parties if I provide them with plants but I can't see that I'll be using all of it....

chrisc
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on February 17, 2012, 15:19:21
Don't worry... found your address... too late to get them out today but I'll put them in the post on Monday..

chrisc
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 17, 2012, 15:23:38
Thanks for thinking of me Chris but no need to send me anything, just hope you enjoy the Lumpers  ;D
Lol Sarpo Mira x PFA just made me think of you wonder at the possible combinations... PFA tasting with L. Blight resistance! If you can't make use of the seeds and no one else wants them I'll happily have them back to grow  :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: compostbin on February 20, 2012, 11:51:26
 :o :o :o.......are the little round things,...that grow @ the top,..close to the flowers,...actually,.......the true potatoe seed?,....what a total plonker,....i've been growing spuds,...on my allotment,.....for over a decade,...& never ever thought to give them a try,...got some REAL POTATOE SEED,...tubers,...from Marshalls,...chitting away,..for this year,..but it seems,...that i've never tried growing,...from the little green things ever,...if the are,...actually,...reall potatoe seed :o :o
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 20, 2012, 11:59:43
Yep, sounds like them,  the little green seed pods that form where the flowers have been which contain the seeds.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Nigel B on February 20, 2012, 13:11:37
So I'm starting again. :) The seeds I had weren't from anything I remember, but JayB sent me some Sarpo Kifi * October Blood seeds which I'll plant instead.
The good thing JayB, is that blight (If I dare I even utter the words) isn't a problem here. Well, it hasn't been so far, and I've been garden-growing spuds for a while now.

So I'll get these sown later today or tomorrow Jayb, so we can see what comes of them. :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on February 20, 2012, 13:43:05
Your packets gone in the post already .... oh well.... hope you enjoy then... or redistribute to someone who will....

I've jsut realised that the Sarpo Fir Apples are the true seed adn that the tubers must be Lumpers.... many many thanks for that, hopefully I'll be able to grow some to impress some irish mates with a piece of their history....

chrisc
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: compostbin on February 20, 2012, 16:01:25
 ;) ;) ;).....thank you jb.....so,....then,....is that little green thing,...where the flowers form,..........would i plant the whole thing?....koz
i think,.....on opening one,...years ago,...... its full of seeds,.....but i'me though able to walk a little(got M.S),..( & very recently,..got a motorbility scooter,......use raised beds,....),...or do i need to plant one seed @ a time,.....(got a greenhouse,....in the garden,...where i live,....& a coldframe)...
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 20, 2012, 16:36:25
So I'm starting again. :) The seeds I had weren't from anything I remember, but JayB sent me some Sarpo Kifi * October Blood seeds which I'll plant instead.
The good thing JayB, is that blight (If I dare I even utter the words) isn't a problem here. Well, it hasn't been so far, and I've been garden-growing spuds for a while now.

So I'll get these sown later today or tomorrow Jayb, so we can see what comes of them. :)

Lucky you, where about are you? 'Tis a blight hotspot here  :'(

Hope they do well for you and yes I 'll follow with interest how they do, though don't chuck your other ones out, chances are they will make decent eating potatoes, might be fun guessing what they are ;D
Bit of envy here as I'm not starting my tps for another few weeks :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: green lily on February 20, 2012, 21:04:12
Well mine are up and growing but I haven't cracked how to work the photo system here so if anyone can explain in simple terms how to get my pics onto A4A then I'll be able to show what I mean. I've given a load of seedlings to a neighbour and sent the rest of the seed down to Jayb for anyone who wants to try straight pfas.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Nigel B on February 20, 2012, 21:47:42

Lucky you, where about are you? 'Tis a blight hotspot here  :'(

Hope they do well for you and yes I 'll follow with interest how they do, though don't chuck your other ones out, chances are they will make decent eating potatoes, might be fun guessing what they are ;D
Bit of envy here as I'm not starting my tps for another few weeks :)

North Wales JayB. You can see the sea from the allotment on a good day, although the view is now dominated by those pesky wind-farms, and the wind is either Westerly or on-shore on average so there's few nasty wind-borne bacteria or fungi. :)

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 19, 2012, 21:40:54
Sounds like you have a gorgeous spot Nigel  :)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 19, 2012, 21:54:13
I'm planning on sowing my TPS seed at the weekend. Not 100% sure which ones yet, I've got several of Tom Wagner's  varieties and some I saved saved from last season. Also quite excited about sowing seed from the crosses I made last year. All in all I'm really looking forward to getting them started  now :P

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: brown thumb on March 20, 2012, 08:26:42
glad to see you about to sow your tps this weekend   I thought i missed the boat well the propagator is empty just weaned the chillies   out of it now its the turn for some tps  and tomatoes
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on March 20, 2012, 09:24:46
I did mine last week and already they are 'romping' away..should be flowering soon.. ;)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 20, 2012, 09:40:34
glad to see you about to sow your tps this weekend   I thought i missed the boat well the propagator is empty just weaned the chillies   out of it now its the turn for some tps  and tomatoes

I sowed mine at the begining of March last year which I think was just a little too early for me to be able to grow them on without check. Although tiny to start once they get going.....

Glad to hear yours are doing so well G'life  ;D What's the germination like?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on March 20, 2012, 14:33:21
Code: [Select]
Glad to hear yours are doing so well G'life  What's the germination like? Bit too good.. ::) I was being generous with the amount of seeds per module..just in case some don't germinate.. ::) Hah..its like mini forest in each 'slot'... :-X ..lesson learned and won't do it again.
Varieties that I've sown are Ilona, Triumph, Russian Blue, Velina, Imperatritsa, Tibet, Farmer and Krasa.
 
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 20, 2012, 17:40:50
Skagit Magic, Russian Blue and Blue Belle are all up. I was as generous as I could be while still keeping a reasonable amount back for next year. I found last year that there was a lot of variation, and some plants grew far better than others, so I want to be able to do some selection.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 28, 2012, 07:49:11
Sounds like your conditions were just right for germination  :) An interesting sounding selection G'life, only a couple I know so I can't wait to hear how the others do yayyy love TPS.

Robert if you need more tps for those give a shout, although the Skagit Magic would be I guess F2 selection?

Well my seeds were sown Sunday evening and are now residing in the propagator. Itchy fingers or what, waiting for the first ones to pop  ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 28, 2012, 08:12:31
This is a Sarpo Mira x Lumper seedling, seed was sown in January and grown on indoors until March when it went out to the greenhouse. Not quite sure what I expect from this one but a slightly blight resistant Lumper would be good, although I'm not sure on the taste combination  :-\
[attachment=2]



This Sarpo Kifli x Skagit Magic was sown earlier in the year, I've just sown a few more (I only had a few seeds of this one), hoping for something with L. blight resistance
[attachment=1]

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 28, 2012, 17:33:20
Mine are just getting their first true leaves, but look healthy enough. They'll soon be ready for potting up.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 29, 2012, 11:29:52
I just spotted the first little seedling pushing through yayyyy  ;D

Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: brown thumb on March 30, 2012, 09:47:34
 i sowed as a trial some tps of  blue Russian i had from jayb thank you, also a few of Charlotte   i collected my self and to day i have one tiny seedling of Russian blue up  , yea
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on March 30, 2012, 11:05:37
 ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: oldpot on April 02, 2012, 22:12:11
HI

i just read all of this post and wow very interesting indeed great work and pictures i been wanting  to have a go at TPS  for years but never got around to it i did not think the seed would come true all the ones i throw out over the years :( ,anyways  little background of me been growing veg and spubs for 25 years in uk barnsley all sorts of ones but i like the salad one best  pink fur apple rattie and Charlotte i am now in USA Michigan,  and i just got myself an allotment over here and i love to try and grow some TPS seeds saw on this post some of the 3 types i like as TPS , i wondering where i could get some of them TPS or any other salad(fingerling they called them over here) i looked at toms website and hes got lot of seeds   but i dont know what sort the salad TPS ones are from the site? and if i did order some am i too late to try them this year or if anywhere in uk i can order some ,this year here i growing Yukon golds and Russian  banana and Irish cobbler seed potatoes this year hope i can get them in in last week of April anyone know if they set seed and first time i will have usa spuds  .
any help would be appreciated.
ty
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 03, 2012, 18:54:58
They don't come true; if my very limited expereince is anything to go by, you get a vary variable lot of seedslings, and it's a case of selecting the ones you like. Mine have come via swaps on this site; right now, I've got masses of seedlings on the windowsill.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on April 04, 2012, 12:56:02

Hi ty
As previously said by Robert, potatoes grown from seeds don’t come exactly true there will be variation. So if you saved and sowed seed from say Russian Banana you would find many of the plants produce similar type tubers. Some variation will show up and if it is a cross lots more diversity will be seen.

I don’t have any PFA seed at the moment but I do have some Ratte tps I can send. I’m growing Charlotte this year and although  I’m staying hopeful, they don’t always flower and I think rarely set berries.

Russian Banana does set seed and fingers crossed it does for you this year. I’m afraid I only have a very small amount left so not worth sending. According to the European potato database Yukon Gold does not flower or set berries http://www.europotato.org/display_description.php?variety_name=Yukon%20Gold. Although I know Tom W. has used it in some of his breeding. I’ve not grown Irish Cobbler, but they are on the database, indicating they do flower although rare to set berries. You could try giving a hand to fertilise some flowers to see if that helps. Also might be fun to try crossing it with Russian Banana.

I had a quick look at the varieties Tom has listed but I’m afraid I know little more about many of them than is already there. You could try asking at Tom’s forum, lots of knowledgeable folk there.

Two of his varieties I have may be similar to what you are looking for, Near Yukon(Yukon Gold types) and La Pan (yellow fleshed fingerling), I’ve not many seeds but I could send a few of those for you to try too. If interested send me a pm.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: oldpot on April 05, 2012, 17:06:34
ty for your answers
i emailed tom and not got replay from him yet i wondering if it too late to send and sow one of toms varieties , i will keep checking the Russian Banana ones does that self pollinate ?? ty for the offers jayb i will keep reading this thread as its very interesting indeed ty again :).
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 06, 2012, 18:56:13
I planted TPS in mid-May last year. It was definitely late, but I did get some very small tubers from the stronger plants.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: brown thumb on April 06, 2012, 21:13:16
I   have some     more Russian Blue up and a few Charlotte(  my own saved seed )quite excited about them all
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 09, 2012, 11:39:47
One of the things I've noticed is that the seed seems to germinate over a period; every time I water my pots there are a few more. It makes it hard to decide when to put them up.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on April 09, 2012, 12:10:23
Yes, I've noticed that too.. ::)
My TPS are now about 2-3" tall and potted up into 6" pots..I keep gradually topping up the level of the compost in pots so eventually the seedlings get buried deeper and deeper..giving me nice stocky growth. They are looking good already..no flopping all over the place.. ;)
Once these 6" pots are filled up with good root system I'm going to plant the whole potfulls into large buckets..and that's their this years final growing place.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 09, 2012, 12:14:28
That sounds like a way to go. I can't bury mine at the moment as I've still got very small seedlings, but they could go into bigger pots, and perhaps be broken up into smaller groups in the process.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: oldpot on April 12, 2012, 14:50:29
does anyone know how long tom takes to send seeds i ordered some 8 days back and no sign of them ty
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: oldpot on May 03, 2012, 18:02:39
i got my seeds from tom and sown them on the 16th april (hope i will get summut out of them) just got first true leave on them going to try ( got rosalina x and free seeds brevoort river ) as anyone grown these variety ?? more info later .

hows everyone else doing with there's ???
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on May 03, 2012, 18:06:01
All mine are about 4" tall..filled nicely their 6"pots and now ready for planting into buckets.
This weekend job...
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on May 03, 2012, 21:16:03
I only got mine sown last weekend however, as they are a Sarpo/PFA cross what I'm looking for is an ultra-late blight-proof fir apple with significant cold tolerance.... So I'm growing them for late cropping anyway and anything that gets blight is a goner anyway... Last years experiments that are ongoing  went into their ridges on the plot a couple of weeks ago, the Russian Blue derived pair are a blue-fleshed vigorous cultivar I call Jayblu and a wierd one that turned up looking like a white spud... until I cut one up for the pot and discovered that all the flesh inside the vascular ring is a pastel pink... it's called Russian Blush, then there's one that's a derivitive of Rattethat was also decently productive (even as a TPS) ... I call it Siberian Hamster (if you remember the bit in Fawlty Towers when Manuel was insisting "eees not a rat, ees Siberian Hamster!..."
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Nigel B on May 03, 2012, 23:34:43
The TPS I had from JayB have gone to the plot. Just a few small plants in a small trench covered in a few inches of used coconut coir. I'll use straw to mulch them with as they grow, to try to keep any resulting tubers away from the dreaded wire-worm.  ::)
Hey-ho... I'm Loving all this involvement and trying different things.  If only education was always this interesting and fun.
I also tried pulling individual 'chits' from some seed potatoes, a bit like pulling the legs from a daddy-long-legs one at a time, but slightly easier to plant. Each one has rooted out happily and is starting to put out leaves. I would expect each of these 'chits' to become a clone of it's parent.
Next year I will certainly be trying this in earnest as a way of getting my money's worth from a bag of seed potatoes.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: oldpot on May 06, 2012, 20:07:59
how big was the tuber from last year experiment you planted crisscross i will be checking see how you do with them :)
and yours too Nigel with the pulled chits you did i did one chit to see what happens  yes its good experimenting with things you never know might get a good one .
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: green lily on May 07, 2012, 20:53:23
I've weeded out 15 of my PFA TPS to grow on. There are 9 which are about 10+ inches tall and a further 6 which are smaller, say 6-8ins. at the moment they're poted up in the conservatory and waiting room in the poly.
IMO its still risky for going out because we had frost last night. There were small tubers developing on the ones I've binned for lack of room. White tubers though not pink.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on May 08, 2012, 01:55:15
how big was the tuber from last year experiment you planted crisscross i will be checking see how you do with them :)
and yours too Nigel with the pulled chits you did i did one chit to see what happens  yes its good experimenting with things you never know might get a good one .

THe Jayblues varied from a bit bigger than hens egg to a bit bigger than microtuber, the Russian Blush about hens egg, the Siberian Hamster a bit bigger than microtuber to a bit bigger than my middle finger... on average a bit smaller than commercial seed, but you have to remember they were lateish sowings and of the various plants I got last year these were the productive/vigourous ones... The Jayblues probably had the best/most advanced chits of any of my potatoes when I planted them.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: oldpot on May 10, 2012, 17:05:18
ty crisscross will be watching your progress of them
these are mine 2 lots i got growing so far

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/oldpot/IMG_20120508_175806.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/oldpot/IMG_20120508_175814.jpg)

first one is brevoort river 2nd one rosalina x
the big one out is a fingerling chit i pulled to try
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on May 10, 2012, 18:47:22
AS I expected the jayblu's are starting to break through on the plot, there are two that are the most advanced of anything I planted.... This years true seeds have started to germinate adn looks like I will have a few SarpoxPFA's to play with :-)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 10, 2012, 20:29:29
Mine are at the same stage as Oldpot's, ready for potting up as soon as I can get it done.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on May 11, 2012, 01:11:36
Few more of the Sarpo x PFA's were up when I was in the GH this evening.... I'll need to get some pots ready....
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: oldpot on May 11, 2012, 12:51:30
where are you robert and crisscross england , be nice to see different climates (i am in Michigan 40 north Detroit )normally weather we about 3 -4 weeks behind uk up to end of april( in barnsley i would put taties in midto late march, here we put them late april) but its been milder than normal winter but summer temps are higher and more sunny and normally catch up with uk plants  but again we get early frosts then uk  so be nice to compere how these tps grow .
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: louise stella on May 11, 2012, 14:16:13
This is my first year doing this and I hae lots of seedlings on the go!  Will need to pot them on in a week or so and am going to pass some on as well as I have so many!
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on May 11, 2012, 17:01:31
where are you robert and crisscross england , be nice to see different climates (i am in Michigan 40 north Detroit )normally weather we about 3 -4 weeks behind uk up to end of april( in barnsley i would put taties in midto late march, here we put them late april) but its been milder than normal winter but summer temps are higher and more sunny and normally catch up with uk plants  but again we get early frosts then uk  so be nice to compere how these tps grow .

Swindon for me but I was a bit late getting the spuds in and then it rained loads and I got even later...
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Nigel B on May 11, 2012, 17:45:45
how big was the tuber from last year experiment you planted crisscross i will be checking see how you do with them :)
and yours too Nigel with the pulled chits you did i did one chit to see what happens  yes its good experimenting with things you never know might get a good one .

Hi Oldpot,
I have to confess, my pulled-chits took a right knock when I forgot to put their tray in the greenhouse over the last couple of frosty nights.
That said though, only one or two have actually gone to the great compost heap in the sky, and the rest are showing signs of life again so I'll persevere because I'm determined to see what happens.
So, we're back to the stage of small leaves forming, but still looking ok..

And now its back to Oldpot in his greenhouse for an update....
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: oldpot on May 11, 2012, 18:50:28


.And now its back to Oldpot in his greenhouse for an update....
[/quote]

we dont use greenhouse here to get too hot in summer everything goes out side i use a clear tote for my stuff to keep the frost out if needed .hehe

sorry about the chits ones i see you getting bad weather over there last few weeks i got one to try see how that goes , hope yours recover back :).
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 11, 2012, 19:05:47
I'm in Birmingham. I started mine ages ago on the windowsill, but should have potted them up well before now.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on May 11, 2012, 19:47:32
Seed survivability seems good... I've got some year old Ratte TPS showing through on a windowsill now... Looks like if they set OK then they keep for a while...
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: oldpot on May 12, 2012, 17:43:31
I've got some year old Ratte TPS
i love to try some of them,hope they do well for you , i loved ratte taties and Charlottes and pink fur apple thats all i grew in uk .
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: oldpot on May 13, 2012, 17:41:27
ahhhhhhhh i went out this morning and left all my plants out of the clear totes i got (as its too hot in them today) and the geese and babys that live on the lake where we are have eaten 60% of my tatties plants and other veg they normaly leave them alone and well out of 24 tatties plants i got 12 left and 3 in bad shape and hope they will survive , dam pissed me off they have those geese ,i need a gun lol .
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on May 20, 2012, 10:24:20
There is new book coming out of Rebsie Fairholm about TPS.. ;D I have to start putting my pocket money together..it will be interesting read.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: oldpot on May 27, 2012, 23:11:55
well planted 10 of the plants i had left i lost the ones the geese got :( now wait and see whats happens
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: chriscross1966 on May 28, 2012, 16:12:12
Got seven PFA/Sarpo's and six Ratte selfs in pots in the GH adn they have just surivied the hot weather while I was away  (which won't happen again for a while) I've got some big pots (but not enough) so the PFA/Sarpo might well end up out on a plot with plenty of seperation.... I want that undying blightproof habit from the Sarpo and the taste of the PFA, not fussed about growth habit or most of the annoying issues with PFA, a blightproof FIr Apple is all I care about... with the Ratte I'd like somethign tasty adn early.... and yes I know I could grow Anya, but I'm hoping for something earleir than that...
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: oldpot on June 02, 2012, 18:19:02
gl with the fir apple and ratte ones i love to get some of them seeds hope they set seed for you as well,  mine 10 doing ok in the garden now i sown some more ros xx ones but might not do nothing might be late but might as well try .
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: brown thumb on June 13, 2012, 08:05:47
I have some tps seedlings about 8" high, can i put them out side now all danger of frost is over .or do i keep potting them into bigger pots and leave them in the greenhouse
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on June 13, 2012, 10:04:40
When mine were about that size and smaller..I planted mine into buckets..and they are outside now.
They are as tough now as any other potato plant so yes..you can put them outside..and/or pot them on or put them in ground.
I grow mine in buckets as I don't want to chance it loosing those few plants that I have got. If you have room in GH for them to grow bit longer that would be ideal..hopefully it keeps any chance of possible blight getting to them. Tops on mine are now 1 1/2 ft tall so they are getting bit big for the GH and I had to move them out, otherwise I would have like to keep them couple of more weeks under cover while we got all this rain pouring down.. ::)..then again..saves me a watering job.. :-\
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: brown thumb on June 14, 2012, 19:30:02
that's for that i will plant them in Morrison's buckets and find some space in the polytunnel
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: oldpot on June 18, 2012, 16:53:16
you can do both i guess brown thumb i put 2 -3 inch ones out today (late sowing dunno if i get anything off them) these are 8 (pic of 4) these are some  plants out side from early may sowing , it my first tiem i was later sowing them so i be happy with any tubers to save for next year and to try hope next year i can start earlier and get better plants .

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/oldpot/IMG_20120618_083200.jpg)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on August 30, 2012, 20:05:34
WELL...something worked out this year, even if the weather has been so poor.
I've emptied all my buckets and TPS crop was better than I expected. There was even few really big eating size potatoes  :o..I wasn't expecting anything like it...just teeny weenies to grow next year but the biggies were 4-5" long  ;D
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 26, 2014, 08:55:48
Wow, I missed these posts, spuds look gorgeous Goodlife  :toothy10:
How did they taste and have you kept any of them going?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on February 26, 2014, 10:54:58
Wow, I missed these posts, spuds look gorgeous Goodlife  :toothy10:
How did they taste and have you kept any of them going?

gosh...that feel like ages ago...

Yes, I did planted the seed potatoes last year and got quite good crop from them....actually bit too good as many of the varieties I haven't even started eating yet.....shed is still 'full' of potatoes'... :BangHead: I might have grow tad too many...
There couple of that were originally from you and they didn't suit my soil/climate at all...the tops did grew well but they come to season too late to able to make much tubers...but..they didn't get killed by blight even I allowed the plants to grow until they were finished by cold weather. One of the seed varieties that I got from Seemnemailm was 'Farmer'....and that I liked a lot. Nothing unusual about the variety, just 'basic' white spuds..but it produced good even sized potatoes with nice clean skin and no disease problems. The spud were tasty and on more of waxy side with texture.. :icon_cheers: BUT..I gobbled all the spuds so there is none saved for this year. I might order some more seeds in near future.
I'm going to do some serious 'digging' in shed and go through my stores..and go into spud diet...get some smaller ones to sprout and soon it will be planting time again.. :icon_cheers:
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 26, 2014, 11:08:40
Brilliant results  :icon_cheers:
I have several potato varieties from Seemnemailm, but I don't think any called Farmer, although I may not have translated them very well. Have you a picture of the packet?  I still haven't had a chance to sow any tps from them, maybe next year.

Yes some of the TPS I had are late to produce spuds plus they are indeterminate sorts so just carry on growing.

I know that time of year, I looked out this thread as I'm just picking out what to sow (tps) for this year.

Good luck with your digging  :toothy10:
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: goodlife on February 26, 2014, 11:15:23
Here we are...

..and there was still few seeds left in the packet, though not sure if they would germinate anymore..but I'm going to try.... :icon_cheers:
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Jayb on February 26, 2014, 11:58:41
Yes they should germinate, I believe they are longer keeping than tomatoes. I had some good results from Blue Belle seeds, some lovely marked tubers.
Just checked, sorry that's not one I have.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on February 26, 2014, 17:04:37
Mine are sprouting on the windowsill. I keep the seeds in the freezer with the other rarities, but from what I've read they're pretty long lasting. They should grow.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: aj on April 16, 2014, 09:30:03
So, a few years back me and my two allotment neighbours decided to save some TPS seed from our favourite potato, Amorosa. Only one of us manged to get seed that year. He sowed it and gave me some of the plants, and I grew them in pots so that tubers were quite small. I saved those and when they started shooting this year I potted them on and at the weekend I popped them into a corner of the allotment, nice and deep. The roots had already started forming tiny potatoes.

I just wanted to post on this now to track them and give updates when come back on here.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: seedman on November 08, 2016, 18:25:18
I joined the forum because of this great thread, hope it hasn't died and that folks have made continued progress. I'm new to TPS and hope next year to sow my first proper seeds along with some tubers that I hope to be crossing ;-)
Title: Re: Growing potatoes from True Potato seed.
Post by: galina on November 08, 2016, 18:33:59
I joined the forum because of this great thread, hope it hasn't died and that folks have made continued progress. I'm new to TPS and hope next year to sow my first proper seeds along with some tubers that I hope to be crossing ;-)
Welcome to the forum seedman.  Where do you garden?  Which tps are you planning on growing?  Even more intriguing which potatoes are you planning to cross?  Not easy.  Will follow your progress with interest.  :wave:
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