Potatoes Made Easy

[zazen999]

I brought a beginners growing set of poatatoes, it came with 3 types of potatoes and bags to grow them in. On the instructions it says you can chit them before in an egg box but you done NEED to. I was just wondering if it makes a big diference? Ive never grown potatoes before and so im quite clueless!!

Hi - I've merged your thread with one currently running; if you have a look at post number 43 - the latest advice is quoted on there.

[Caro]

I rushed out and got my flower buckets for my first earlies .... but I think they're the wrong flower buckets. I'm sure they're not big enough, even for small spuds.

The diameter is 23 cm (9 inches)
The height is 20 cm (8 inches)

Can someone confirm, these are not the flower buckets that were mentioned earlier as being suitable for salad spuds?! What is the minimum container size?

If they're not right, I'm off to find another supermarket.

Many thanks

[binley100]

My potatoes are in egg boxes in the conservatory. They have got some sprouts which are about 1/2" but the tops of the sprouts look a bit black . Is this ok. Probably a daft question but never grown poatotoes before.

[chris]

Likewise, first-timer here too..

I've bought first earlies, second earlies, and maincrop (rocket, charlotte, and maris piper).

I'm going to chit them all now, but just wondered if you dont want to chit them, how do you store the seed potatoes? Unless it's been mentioned above, I seem to be a bit confused

[Ringo Grumio Nibbler]

Likewise, first-timer here too..

I've bought first earlies, second earlies, and maincrop (rocket, charlotte, and maris piper).

I'm going to chit them all now, but just wondered if you dont want to chit them, how do you store the seed potatoes? Unless it's been mentioned above, I seem to be a bit confused

From what I've read, in a cool dark place, but keep the air circulating around them.

[zazen999]

You don't need to chit mains, just earlies [ which saves space in our kitchen].

I don't know about black tips to chits, have they got very cold at night? Can they be brought out of the conservatory for a while?

[Alison]

I kept mine in hessian sacks in the loft for about a month last year until I wanted to chit them when I brought them into the light. They worked great and I will be doing the same when I get my seed spuds this year. Note that you can store in the fridge but that would have meant I'd have had to take something else out the fridge so it wouldn't have helped.............

[chris]

Thanks - just put the first and 2nd earlies on the window sil.

My Main crop maris piper seem a bit soft, couple of them are a bit wrinkly? Are these on the way out? A couple others are beginning to chit already, so I've rubbed them off, and bunged them in the fridge... is this ok?

Thanks!

Edit: Oh yes, could I put them in the sacks I'm going to grow them in, in an unheated greenhouse in March? Not sure when the last frost is here, as I've not done this before! (only bought seedlings in the past!)

[FionaH]

March should be fine Chris. You have a while before they start showing leaves.

[Snadger]

Edit: Oh yes, could I put them in the sacks I'm going to grow them in, in an unheated greenhouse in March? Not sure when the last frost is here, as I've not done this before! (only bought seedlings in the past!)

You seem to be going to grow some spuds similar to a method I pinched off Tattieman?

Its the foliage that will get frosted not the seed spud in the soil,so I am hopefully going to do the same as you.........but plant next weekend. It will probably be a month before they appear above ground anyway and if need be I will either cover the tops with soil or straw or shredded paper if they look like getting frosted in the greenhouse. Once we are past the last frost date they will go into their final position on the plot and should by then have a healthy head of foliage.

[Sanjo]

My potatoes are in egg boxes in the conservatory. They have got some sprouts which are about 1/2" but the tops of the sprouts look a bit black . Is this ok. Probably a daft question but never grown poatotoes before.

Binley, is it possible they are not BLACK but purple? If the room is cool but not frosty, the spuds should chit slowly and they may well be green and purple and firm and they shouldn't at this time of year be overly long. Are they "squidgy".
I have had mine in the past showing a very dark purple. If they are it's perfectly OK.

[binley100]

Binley, is is possible they are not BLACK but purple? If the room is cool but not frosty, the spuds should chit slowly and they may well be green and purple and firm and they shouldn't at this time of year be overly long. Are they "squidgy".
I have had mine in the past showing a very dark purple. If they are it's perfectly OK.

It's too dark in there at the mo to check but tomorrow I'll put me glasses on and have a closer look. It doesn't freeze in there but does get quite cold at night.

[chris]

You don't need to chit mains, just earlies [ which saves space in our kitchen].

So I can plant these fine, at the same time as the others? The packaging advises chitting though.. which is why I'm a bit confused Are they old to be a bit soft too?

You seem to be going to grow some spuds similar to a method I pinched off Tattieman?

Its the foliage that will get frosted not the seed spud in the soil,so I am hopefully going to do the same as you.........but plant next weekend. It will probably be a month before they appear above ground anyway and if need be I will either cover the tops with soil or straw or shredded paper if they look like getting frosted in the greenhouse. Once we are past the last frost date they will go into their final position on the plot and should by then have a healthy head of foliage.

Wasn't sure what you meant until I traced back up and through that post & videos

Yeah, I saw the growing bags I think in one of my gardening books, then I saw them in a seed catalog, and then in an offer in the GYO mag, and THEN on offer at our local garden centre, so I thought bugger it and bought them. 3 for a fiver I think - I thought i'd have a sack for each type I have.


Also, this is probably a bit of a daft question, but is a seed potato, the same as a normal potato? What's different about them? - Just the tested disease resistance?

[Sanjo]

Going to stick my neck out here as nobody has so far answered you Chrismarks.
As far as I know, a seed potato is from certified disease free stock. You can grow spuds from shop bought ones, i've done it myself, but they are not guaranteed disease free and in fact I believe some supermarket spuds are treated with a retardent to prolong their shelf life so may then be difficult to chit and grow.
I have no doubt that somebody else will be along at some time today to put us both right.
In the meantime, I hope this helps.

[tattieman]

Hi Guys I just found the thread was in here and not on vegging out.
You have got on well with out me and answered all questions superbly.
I will check on here now for new posts.