Growing potatoes from True Potato Seeds

[Jayb]

Jeannine mentioned sowing TPS in another thread so I thought I'd start this one for anyone interested in growing them next year. Hopefully several people will join in and have a go. I find growing spuds from TPS really fascinating, I love it when you get different coloured foliage and shaped potatoes. Digging them up is just fab especially because they are all new to you and you never quite know what you will get! Often plants will be similar to their parent or parents (if they are a cross), many of the parents qualities will be carried forward with their offspring.

I've found it best to sow -

Spring for an autumn harvest. Seeds are started in the warmth, seedlings are really quite small to begin with and need potting on a few times. Once they get going they make quite rapid growth and it is amazing to think such a large productive plant comes from such a small seed. Plant out after last frost.

or

Summer sow for mini tubers to be saved and planted the following spring. Although a longer project, in some ways it's easier and you get an idea of the tubers you will be growing. Mini tubers do really well started in pots and given an early protected start. These can then be planted out once risk of frost has past.

For me potatoes grown from TPS have been good, some I've liked more than others but so far all have been usable and enjoyed. Others have been magic! A first year crop from TPS won't be as large as those grown from a seed tuber but most have the potential to produce a worthwhile crop. I don't in any way suppose they will replace seed tubers. But what I think they give, is added interest with the chance of a unique crop and the opportunity to grow potatoes you really want unique to your taste.

[Jayb]

[Jeannine]

Thank you J, I appreciate all the info, I want to try again and had forgotten most of it, I guess doing it makes one remember but I lost mine, all ,my fault, not theirs.

We should keep bumping this so it doesn't get lost as I am sure others would want to try.

Maybe we can do an A4A project on it in the Spring.

Are there any suppliers over there, I am lucky here.

XX Jeannine

[Jayb]

No TPS are very limited, http://www.seemnemaailm.ee/ usually have some seeds, (their tomato selection is awsome  ) But they are I think fairly basic types, I do have seeds from them for a few varieties, though I've not sown them yet. I think Goodlife may have grown some and could give a better idea.

Very few seed pods formed this year, I think the weather was quite hot when most were flowering and bees seemed in very short supply this year or they were off foraging on preferred flowers. I've quite a few saved TPS seeds which I can use though as the seeds last for years. One I'd really like to sow in the spring is PFA x that gave Snooki and Hotdog, I'd like to find some long fingerling types again although most produced rounder type tubers, the flavour was good with them all.

Yes I thought it might be fun to do a project in the spring too. I'm sure I have spare seeds for anyone who fancies growing them, I'll go through my seeds and see what's there.

[lottie lou]

Strewth another project I have to start :-)

[Nigel B]

:) Oh, go on then.... I'd love to join in and grow just a few in the spring, if that's ok?
Its better than eating your secret stash, that's for sure. 

[Jeannine]

Jay,, you know what I am going to ask now...any seeds connected with Charlotte?????

XX Jeannine

[Jeannine]

I have been on Tom's site and currently have in my basket...Pig Knuckles,Ashmont,Huangalia,Awol Again,Plenty Enough,Phyto Phyter,Boy Pig,Chenganina,Magic Dragon and Yelm Whispers

Do you know any of these before I push the button to pay,

XX Jeannine