How are seed potatoes grown?

[Thelma Sanders]

If you open the links you'll see why they are expensive to grow, and then they are tested so they are sold as disease/virus free, as possible.
It is not possible to see if your own potatoes are infected, although some people do grow their seed until there is a problem. But by then their soil could also be infected. I don't think it's worth the risk.

Seed potatoes at Wilko and the like are cheap enough at £2.50 for 2 kg, surely

[benb89]

So I brought these from the garden center and fear they may have scab, from what I've compared online I'd say they do, any opinions? Shall I throw them and buy some more?

[kitty12345]

If you open the links you'll see why they are expensive to grow, and then they are tested so they are sold as disease/virus free, as possible.
It is not possible to see if your own potatoes are infected, although some people do grow their seed until there is a problem. But by then their soil could also be infected. I don't think it's worth the risk.

Seed potatoes at Wilko and the like are cheap enough at £2.50 for 2 kg, surely

Have read the link properly now (was on phone just now). Quite amazing what science can do. But... a little part of me is sad that it is such a scientific process. Does anyone know if all seed potatoes sold here are grown this way? I opened a net of T&M seed potatoes this morning and it said EU passport, so I just assumed it had been grown somewhere in Europe.

[Thelma Sanders]

Irish seed potatoes carry the EU passport, and the first link I gave shows they are grown there in the same way as here. I can only assume that the rest of Europe would be following the same method...