Newbie question about Potatoes.....yikes!

[CookYouVillain]

right then some of these questions may sound stupid so bear with me!

I really want to grow just some good old baking potatoes the kind you get from your local supermarkets, when we've them before some have sprouted in the cupboard (ain't going to lie, we forgot about them!) do all potatoes sprout if so could I use a few as my 'seeding potatoes'?

We would be using potato bags how many seed potatoes could you grow at one time?


Sorry if these question as stupid, I honestly have no idea when it comes to gardening/ growing!

Cheers!!

[chris]

You can do, yes however for baking potatoes they're usually what's termed as "main crop". There's first earlies, second earlies and then the main crops - which basically indicates how long the spuds take until they're ready to be harvested.

Main crop's do better in open ground rather than in bags, but I've still had reasonable results from bags, and of course they still taste better than shop bought potatoes. Maris Peer tasted quite nice, got to a good size but for me, I love Rooster. It has red skin, and is really floury - great for baked potatoes

Personally I'd go for no more than 2 in a bag. I'll dig a thread up for you, two ticks.

[Capsid]

Yes all spuds sprout, the seed potatoes only differ in that they are certified disease free.

How many spuds to grow depends on the size of the bags, but if you want baking potatoes then 3-4 per bag would be about right.

[chris]

Ah, it's a sticky at the top of this forum: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...2-a_26499.html

tattieman's advice about using potato fertiliser is one to heed, it made a huge difference comparing bags when I'd ran out of it, despite trying other methods of feeding the potatoes.

Edit:

Just to clarify - the reason I'm suggesting 2 per bag is for larger spuds. 3-4 will work, but in my experience 3-4 is better for salads/earlies

[zazen999]

I've renamed that thread to 'potatoes made easy'. As the advice stands every year!

[Two_Sheds]

could I use a few as my 'seeding potatoes'?

Yes. I do.

[lottie dolly]

And me to,last year i purchased several seed varieties,and got better crops of my own self saved a few years on the trot,and roosters from the supermarket,at reduced price,to get rid of for new stock,so another thing to look out for,

[Aberdeenplotter]

beware of supermarket spuds though. Sometimes they will have been sprayed with a sprout suppressor. I would soon know by placing them in the cupboard under the sink. My spuds sprout like tryphids in there

[CookYouVillain]

thanks for the advice guys

So when could I grow earlies? What variety is a good early potato
Same questions for 2nd earlies

[Aberdeenplotter]

For me, Red Duke of York is the best early and Kestrel for second early

[Peppermint]

I'm a newbie at growing potatoes and last year was our first serious attempt at growing a large amount.

The second earlies - Charlotte and Kestrel - were brilliant and have stored very well (we are still using them).

I'm going to try AP's suggestion for first earlies (plus probably several others because I get carried away at the seed merchants )

[Potstubsdustbins]

If you want a really good first early then for me it would be Lady Christl. Its one I grow every year and it has the advantage of if you leave it longer in the ground it will produce lovely bakers and chippers to.

Potty

[CookYouVillain]

Thank you all again,

What months can you plant and harvest the

Earlies
Second Earlies
Mains

[Aberdeenplotter]

I'll leave someone from your part of the country to answer. I won't be planting till mid April at earliest

[Potstubsdustbins]

I grow purely in containers and plant as follows.

First early late Feb in buckets in the green house, they gat moved outdoors 1st May. If you don't have a GH you would have to find someway of protecting from frost.

Second early in dustbins mid March, frost is not a problem as you just pop the lid on the dustbin.

One week later my main crop go in their dustbins again lids are available in case of frost.

Potty