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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: gavinjconway on August 30, 2011, 01:04:53

Title: To keep or not to keep own seed Potatoes
Post by: gavinjconway on August 30, 2011, 01:04:53
Hi Spud growers.. I'm new to spuds this year and have grown some good tasty ones... I have a few questions..

Is it better to buy new seed next season or Is it worth keeping my own seed? Assuming yes to the latter... Will they keep from now till March in my normal shed stored in cardboard boxes covered up in old carpets to keep Jack Frost out?  I dont have any hessian sacks..

What are the best size to keep? I have quite a few that are golf ball and below in size...
Title: Re: To keep or not to keep own seed Potatoes
Post by: Digeroo on August 30, 2011, 18:38:59
Lots of people do not recommend saving your own because it increases the chances of things like blight.  Most seed potatoes come from Scotland where the lower nighttime temperature means there is less blight about there.   They take precautions to keep them blight free.

Having said that there is a movement to use TSP (seed) and the tiny minitubers which have the need to keep tubers from one year to the next.  I have had the best result keeping potatoes in brown paper bags.  I tend to keep ones which have bits of green on them becuase I do not want to eat them. 

Title: Re: To keep or not to keep own seed Potatoes
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on August 30, 2011, 19:15:40
What temperature range do you store them at? They'd obviously have to be frost-free, but I assume you keep them somewhere unheated.