Duronal's Potatoes from Seed Experiment '08 and into '09

[Demeter]

Thanks Snadger.
Haven't any more seeds to resow but will give the original lot a bit more time before I sling them on the compost!!

Whoop!
We have potatoes.
(Just a few!)

[Snadger]

Whoop!
We have potatoes.
(Just a few!)

Strange but euphoric aint it!

[Phreddy]

Looking for advice before I sow them!
Some opine that the window sill is too warm; Others have sown early (too cold?); Now some are growing that did not germinate at the lower temp.
What is optimum please or is it 'suck it and see'?

[Snadger]

Looking for advice before I sow them!
Some opine that the window sill is too warm; Others have sown early (too cold?); Now some are growing that did not germinate at the lower temp.
What is optimum please or is it 'suck it and see'?

If you have enough seed phreddy...try both!

I reckon mine preferred the lower temperatures of a cold greenhouse!

[Duronal]

My best germination happened without the propagator next to a set of french windows. I'd wait for a full 28days before of throwing seed out though some seeds just seem to need time.

[Demeter]

Now that I have a good lot of seedlings (Salad Blue, Rooster and King Edwards) coming through I am starting to think about how and where to plant! I am working on the assumption that they are frost tender as per "normal" spud plants - which is fine as long as the current rate of growth doesn't accelerate much! I have buckets / containers and I also have plenty of space at the allotment site which I could use. However, as I don't know what I'm going to get, I'm slightly nervous about growing them in the ground (blight and all that) - but also keen to minimise container-growing this year as I am rubbish at keeping everything watered.

What are others planning to do?

[Flummery]

Mine are at the stage where they really need separate pots - they are in a seed tray at the moment. I'm going to give them a small pot each initially then plant them into a big pot - tomato sized. Otherise, I shan't know which spuds are which. I want to try one of each and then save the tubers of the best variety in the fridge bottom for next year.

[Snadger]

Mine are at the stage where they really need separate pots - they are in a seed tray at the moment. I'm going to give them a small pot each initially then plant them into a big pot - tomato sized. Otherise, I shan't know which spuds are which. I want to try one of each and then save the tubers of the best variety in the fridge bottom for next year.

Tubers??????? Theres' optimism for you!

I have a 3 inch pot which must have about a thousand seeds germinated in it! I'll try potting a few on when they get a bit bigger but if I used them all I'd need to buy a small farm to house them!

[Duronal]

If you grew them in pots snadger maybe you stack them in an elaborate pyramid shape?!

[Phreddy]

If you have enough seed phreddy...try both!

I reckon mine preferred the lower temperatures of a cold greenhouse!

I haven't looked to see how much seed I have. It has been donated by Flummary and Duronal. That's bad of me! I have just been waiting for an improvement in the weather.

Setting up my propagator this week-end - light bulb in a box with seed trays above.

[MaureenHall]

I've re-potted my 3 surviving plants this week. They look really strong and sturdy and I noticed very tiny tubers when I was doing the re-potting. They're in small buckets with holes round the bottom rather than in big plant pots now and I've put them outside the greenhouse door in the garden. Fingers crossed there's no frost!

[Snadger]

I've re-potted my 3 surviving plants this week. They look really strong and sturdy and I noticed very tiny tubers when I was doing the re-potting. They're in small buckets with holes round the bottom rather than in big plant pots now and I've put them outside the greenhouse door in the garden. Fingers crossed there's no frost!

Whats all this mention of tubers..........I have hundreds of plants but they are only 1/2" high!

[zazen999]

I have 2 photos for you.

Firstly is my potato from seed, lacking in space this year I have tended to the first seedling and pretty much let the others get on with it - but my first one will be repotted today but before I do here is a photo.

Secondly, there is my potatoes from the bits cut off sprouting shop bought potatoes, these are roosters. Just a sliver cut off, and then planted into the roottrainer. Again, these will go into pots [all bound for the greenhouse when it arrives], but they are coming on nicely.

[Flummery]

I've just potted up 6 from my batch of Salad Blue seeds. Pics on my blog. They are smaller than Andrea's but I plonked them well down in the compost - the equivalent of earthing up! I'm quite excited about this!

[zazen999]

That's why I took one before potting on - they are being plonked in up to their top inch of growth.

This is an exciting experiment!!!!!