I think we are all in agreement that eating them is a big NO NO so I won't discuss that issue any further.
These potatoes were not soft when harvested,
As one would expect!
they seem to have gone soft because they have been so cold in the shed.
Possibly not as realfood say they might have been stored at some time in too warm a situation and the cold has mummified them at this stage!
To establish if 'cold' is an issue cut a potato into quarters and if 'cold' is the problem then they will probably have black patches in them.
If greenish/off white in colour they should be OK for seeding!
Most of the stored ones have been affected. I am sure they could not be deseased.
Lets hope so but you will have know of knowing this for certain.
they are in egg trays in the shed.
But are they in the dark or the light. They need to be in the light to chit.
I just thought they would grow shoots themselves.
They do but if it is dark the chits will be soft light coloured and will break off easily.
If chitted in the light they should be like this;
I have heard so many people say that you should buy seed potatoes and have alays done so in the past. The guy in the next allotment to me always has success with everything he grows. He is an ex science teacher and he is lways explaining things to me. He said that he alwys used his last years crop for seed potatoes, in fact some of the ones I have are from him. You would not believe the yield he has! I watched a programme the other day about commercial growers in Jersy who use their own for seed potatoes too, so surely there must be something in it??
Perhaps so but it is quite often down to how they were stored, and how selective you have been when choosing the ones to save!
The reason for buying new is to reduce the risk the potential of contacting disease, but this is not guaranteed even with purchased seed!
I always save my Pink Fir Apple seed simply because they are generally relatively more expensive to buy, whereas the more common varieties are relatively cheap and it is not worth the risk (in my opinion)
In my opinion why take the risk fo going to the expense & trouble of digging, mucking and fertilsing tubers to find at harvest time a poor crop just to save a few bob.
Regarding the Jerseys this is a commercial enterprise and like all seed suppliers they save seed from selected potatoes from the previous years crops and sell the unsuitable ones for culinary use.
Too explain this one is not exactly rocket science, the farmer put the harvest over a a grid where the ones that fall through are generally used for seed and the bigger ones that don't go through are eaten.
i am getting more confused
I hope this clarifies the situation a bit better.
To sum up! yes you can save your own seed if you are prepared to take the risks associated with doing this and that you chit your potatoes in good light not darkness.
ps I hope I have not been too patronising with my comments!
If it is any consolation I get often get confused when I read about or hear other peoples views on this that or the other.....in the end I just make a descision and stick to it!
So on that note I leave my thought with you......Tg
