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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Marlborough on December 19, 2015, 09:06:55

Title: Seed potatoes
Post by: Marlborough on December 19, 2015, 09:06:55
Hi everyone, walking around my local B and Q yesterday, I noticed that they had seed potatoes for sale. They had a full range on offer earlies,second earlies and main crop. Isn't it to early to buy seed potatoes? When do you normally buy yours in? Thank For any opinions 😀🌺
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: small on December 19, 2015, 09:23:09
Seems a bit early to me, not sure how I'd store them because surely you don't want them to start chitting yet....fridge, maybe? I get mine round about end of February usually, a good guide may be whenever the 'potato days' are.
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: laurieuk on December 19, 2015, 10:11:05
I have been looking out for seed potatoes as our garden centre usually has them in just before Christmas. I like to but while you have a good selection no problem if you put them in trays straight away in a full light bot frost free place. I have a couple of tomato trays with corner pegs in.
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: Tee Gee on December 19, 2015, 10:43:08
QuoteIsn't it to early to buy seed potatoes?

I have no problem with that although normally I get my seed in January from a wholesaler.

For example:  I save my own PFA each year  meaning I have to store them until needed from the day I dig them up, so I set them up to chit from that day and normally have no problems.

Saying that PFA do not form big 'chits' like some varieties but if these other varieties  are getting maximum light then the  chits do not get overly large, but then again if they do not get good light you will end up with long aneamic looking chits on your seed.

So much of the potential problems are in the growers hands not the suppliers.
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: cornykev on December 20, 2015, 15:19:54
Mid Jan.   :wave:
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: sparrow on December 20, 2015, 16:09:54
I get mine from JBA, you can specify a delivery week on the order, which is really helpful. I can't dig my ground before March at the earliest, so I don't want them hanging about in the flat for months on end.
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: johhnyco15 on December 20, 2015, 17:47:00
mid jan then put first earlies in sacks in greenhouse 2nd week in feb i will be growing allmy potatoes in bags this year togive the ground a rest
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: laurieuk on December 21, 2015, 14:59:18
Our society used to have monthly competitions ,the March on was for spouted seed potatoes, to try and encourage members to chit their potatoes and give them a good start when they were planted in the soil.
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on January 01, 2016, 19:44:01
I planted some I picked up in the market a couple of months ago, along with minitubers from my TPS plants. They'll come through the winter and grow quite happily.
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: andhram on January 08, 2016, 17:04:46
I have rodered mine from allotment shop, though I have only ordered for Lidy C . thinking of checking for  sarpo axona around.

I also saved some charlotti potatos from my 2nd crop this year.. I want to grow them as 2nd crop htis year. so to keep them safe until the end of august.

Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: GREGME on January 11, 2016, 15:38:29
depends on what you are planting and whether chitting bothers but if you are planting 1st earlies mid march and chitting taking say 6 weeks then you should be buying soon 
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: taurus on January 11, 2016, 18:14:45
Swindon allotment and liesure garden association are having their Potato day this coming Saturday at Gorse hill community centre. Gorse hill , Swindon, Wilts.  Free entry. Over 60 potato varieties, fruit trees,fruit bushes,onions,shallots,garlic, heritage seeds and lots more. 10am to 2.30 pm or till stocks sell out.  Pennard Plants are the suppliers, and I've been very pleased with my purchases over the last 17 years.
Wishing you All a very good growing year. Regards Taurus.
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: saddad on January 16, 2016, 11:09:17
I'm hunting mine down next weekend...
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: johhnyco15 on January 16, 2016, 14:37:33
ours should arrive by next weekend  then earlies ill leave in the shed then plant in bags in the greenhouse middle of  feb after my holiday a week in the sunshine to give my bones a rest back to the spuds though cant remember what i ordered so it will be fun
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: johhnyco15 on January 16, 2016, 14:38:44
ours should arrive by next weekend  then earlies ill leave in the shed then plant in bags in the greenhouse middle of  feb after my holiday a week in the sunshine to give my bones a rest back to the spuds though cant remember what i ordered so it will be fun
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: astraman1 on January 17, 2016, 08:46:27
went and fetched some this weekend wanted to make sure i got them before they sold out or formed long chits in the shop

international kidney
albert bartlet roosters
sarpo mira

after seing dans success on alotment diary i decided to give sarpo a try this year

mine are all in the fridge at the moment
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: Deb P on January 17, 2016, 11:58:37
Quote from: saddad on January 16, 2016, 11:09:17
I'm hunting mine down next weekend...

Where about this year? I only need about 40 tubers this year, so probably waiting for Wilkos....
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: saddad on January 17, 2016, 12:39:16
As it is snowy, we went down to Anstey and collected ours today.... Sorry!  :wave:
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: Marlborough on January 17, 2016, 20:35:08
When do Wilko's normally get their seed potatoes in?🌻
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: InfraDig on January 17, 2016, 22:42:52
Our local Wilko had seed potatoes last Tuesday 12 Jan when I visited. I have just got back from Devon and two local nurseries were selling loose seed potatoes. I bought various sorts at £1.20 a Kg, with Lady Cristl and PFA at £1.50 a Kg from the one I usually use (at Barnstaple Cross near Crediton).
Anyone else noticed that T&M bags last year were 2.25kg and this year are 2kg, same price!?
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: Marlborough on January 18, 2016, 06:22:46
T and M are the Waitrose of the gardening world,I never buy from them. :wave:
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: cornykev on January 18, 2016, 15:14:44
I bought Rocket and Kestrel on Sunday from the  Clockhouse Nurserys in Forty Hall Enfield.   :toothy10:
Title: Re: Seed potatoes
Post by: johhnyco15 on January 23, 2016, 14:20:51
got my pots today rocket nadine sarpo mira dido sapphire and orchestra  going to plant them all in containers this year will post pics of how they get on