Anyone grow any rare varieties? If so, how do you preserve your stock from blight? I've always avoided them and stuck to the easily available varieties because of the blight problem, but obviously some people cope.
I've grown some rare varieties and what I've done is take some up early season as soon as they're large enough for seed potatoes. They've kept over winter in the shed and grown the next year disease free. Blight tends to strike later in the season so taking some up early seems to avoid the problem.
How do you store them? My neighbour stores roots successfully in buckets of sand, but I've never tried due to a rat problem. I need a new shed which doesn't have its floor bang on the ground.
I grew Aura and Lord Roseberry from my own seed but after 8-10 years viruses had reduced the yeild so much I had to give up..
:(
That's why they used to breed so many new varieties; every time the stock got too virus-ridden they'd grow seed and use the best to produce a new, virus-free stock. I doubt whether it's possible to get round this one in the south.
Blight wasn't a problem in the mid 90's when we had some hot dry summers...
;D
Sawfish grows lots of Heritage varieties, I dont think he has much trouble............Where are you Sawfish?
Quote from: saddad on May 02, 2008, 17:53:48
Blight wasn't a problem in the mid 90's when we had some hot dry summers...
;D
Well unfortunately we can't do anything about the Summers, we tend to get what we are given :)
Luckily I don't have rat problems (might be something to do with the cat that lives on my plot). My shed is shaded all year and stored potatoes even start chitting later than at home.