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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: caroline7758 on February 03, 2009, 21:16:12

Title: Seed potato size
Post by: caroline7758 on February 03, 2009, 21:16:12
When I unpacked my 3kg bag of Desiree from Wilko today, I found that more than half the tubers are very small- I would say ping-pong ball or smaller. There were a total of almost 70 tubers,compared to 32 in the Rocket and Kestrel. Do you think they will still produce a decent yield or should I discard the smaller ones? I don't want to take up double the space if it'll be a waste of time.
Title: Re: Seed potato size
Post by: Gobby on February 03, 2009, 21:20:34
At the talk at whitchurch potato day they recommended duck egg size as the ideal, hope that helps, no idea if it's true though :p
Title: Re: Seed potato size
Post by: thifasmom on February 03, 2009, 21:23:43
can't they be planted two to a hole?
Title: Re: Seed potato size
Post by: telboy on February 03, 2009, 21:27:37
Gobby is pretty accurate.
If they are the size of an hens egg, they would be ideal.
Title: Re: Seed potato size
Post by: Plot69 on February 04, 2009, 09:29:53
They're seeds, as long as they root, sprout and produce a plant I see no reason why they shouldn't crop as well as one twice the size. Ideally they should be egg size but it's the resulting plant and root system that produces the tubers, not the seed they sprout from.

Chit them and as long as you get 3 or 4 sprouts, plant them, I wouldn't throw them away.
Title: Re: Seed potato size
Post by: Tattieman on February 04, 2009, 12:41:52
Do not worry about the size of the seed. We plant potatoes the size of your thumb nail and they grow crops as good as anything. ;D
Title: Re: Seed potato size
Post by: cornykev on February 04, 2009, 17:06:33
Size isn't everything  :o   :-[  thats what I tell the chicks anyway,  ;D  as the others have said, as long as you get some chitted sprouts there shouldn't be a problem, Caroline was the rocket 3kg as well because mine had 48 in them.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Seed potato size
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on February 04, 2009, 18:41:34
During WW2, people ate the potatoes, planted the peel, and got crops. Don't worry about it.
Title: Re: Seed potato size
Post by: caroline7758 on February 04, 2009, 19:46:06
That's reassuring-might just have to clear a bit more couch to make roomfor them all!

And yes,Kev, the Rocket was 3kg solooks like I did badly there!
Title: Re: Seed potato size
Post by: tonybloke on February 04, 2009, 20:19:49
Rocket are a large (if you let them be) potato, they are always large seed. they do grow fast, and taste bl**dy lovely!  ;)
Title: Re: Seed potato size
Post by: Gobby on February 04, 2009, 21:33:09
I hate couch grass on our site, had my allotment clear of it, baring 1-2 errant ryzomes.

Well thought i did until i picked up a potato last year with a couch ryzome going right the way through it.
Title: Re: Seed potato size
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on February 05, 2009, 11:24:47
One of your rhizomes errant must have mistaken it for a dragon!