As I said in another post, I've received my seed Salad Spuds earlier than I anticipated. I hadn't really expected them until Jan/Feb, so now I'm not sure what to do! :-\
Can I just leave them in paper lined trays in the shed in the dark under the table until March, or should I just let them start chitting underneath the window? They're Harlequins, Charlottes and Pink Fir Apple so I've got a fair spread.
Most of the literature I've checked seems to assume the spud will be in the grounds in a few weeks! I'm sure I read somewhere that there's an inbuilt dormancy period so the Spuds won't come to life too soon. Any help greatly appreciated as I'm starting to blather on!!! ;)
Dave
I had this problem a few years ago ,what I did was to keep them cool and dark, which is how they would be stored if still in a clamp. Bring them out end of january and start chitting then
Personally I got spuds we dug up in october and I am saving them for next spring I have them in full light and in a COLD greenhouse. OK they are gone green but hey you aint going to eat them are ya? I would not so I would say it would be safe to let them go green. This is my opinion only! You could say the greener the spud the healthier the chit? Hmmm I feel a debate starting on that comment. I think a green spud will not make more green spuds if light is excluded during growth. Storing lets say in a cold dark shed, or garage.
The_Snail
The only problem you might get in a cold greenhouse is frost damage over the winter Snail ... otherwise I agree with your reasoning, although I also believe in the dormancy period - perhaps this only applies to certain varieties or types of potato ?
Derekthefox :D
I'd get 'em chitting. They'll shoot very slowly at this time of year...
And put down some dark mulching fabric on your chosen bed to warm the soil ready for a mid/late Feb planting. You live in the soft south so, with a bit of protection they should be fine following an early sowing...
Cheers for all the advice, I'm definitely gonna move me precious spuds to the shed!
Actually T Max, I'm in the Midlands where we keep our heads down as the insults fly overhead, while keeping the Southerners and Northerners apart! Bit like a UN Peace Keeping force... :D
Trouble is, we get ignored by both Northerners and Southerners! ;D
Ditto Mutant Hobbit, Coventry here, to us Warwick is south, and Nuneaton onwards is north !!!
Derekthefox :D
QuoteTrouble is, we get ignored by both Northerners and Southerners!
Their loss. I used to go to Brum now and again on business. Even the solicitors were alright!
In Glasgow, I keep the seed spuds in the coldest, frost free place possible. However, the West of Britain is relatively mild during the winter, and I see that some of my earlies are already sprouting. When this happens, I put them in the light to stop the sprouts getting too long. Potato varieties have different lengths of dormancy. For the best descriptions of individual potato varieties, go to www.alanromans.co.uk
Commercially, they use cold stores to stop them sprouting early.
I usually get hold of cardboard egg trays, then cut them to fit a cold windowsill, and they go greenish, and the sprouts are short, stubby and purplish. They seem to last until about April with no problems.
Me too. I put them on a north-facing windowsill, then in the shed, then in the greenhouse with the window open a bit ... and so on!