Just received Marshalls seed potatoes

[piskieinboots]

Leave the box open so that the potatoes can breath and not sweat.
Start chitting about 6 weeks before you want to plant them.

this is how I would handle it Sally - I have had seed spuds a little on the early side before and this works for me

[kate&rob]

tattieman, i'm considering ordering my seed spuds from your web site, when is the best time to order them?

[tattieman]

tattieman, i'm considering ordering my seed spuds from your web site, when is the best time to order them?

I can't conduct trade business on here. I don't want banned.
I am more than happy to give free advice on here to anyone who asks.

[Rocketron]

Tattieman, I notice from your website that you include Desiree among maincrop potatoes. Other people offer them as second earlies; is there much difference ?

[tattieman]

Tattieman, I notice from your website that you include Desiree among maincrop potatoes. Other people offer them as second earlies; is there much difference ?

Desiree is 100% maincrop
I have seen some websites that say they are early maincrops which means they will probably mature in 125 days compared to late maincrops around 140 days.
That would make them a week slower than the last of the second earlies.
Hope that helps you.

[Two_Sheds]

you don't want to happen is for them to chit in the dark. If you ...don't get the temperature right you could finish up with long white shoots!

I agree with Snadger, and we've both successfully grown spuds for some years.
I have my seed spuds in my spare fridge (dark and cold).
If you leave spuds in dark and warm places (your cupboards) they will grow long, soft white shoots. Not good.

When you want to chit them (about mid-Feb for me) - bring them into the light, so you get healthy, short, green shoots. Keep them cool, as in a cold greenhouse or shed by a window.

[Two_Sheds]

Snadge, when you say light i assume you mean daylight? wont that make them go green

Doesn't matter. You're not eating them, you're planting them.

[Nicos]

If they are in a netting bag in the box, take them out of it.
If they do start to chit accidentally and you've not noticed, the shoots will get all tangled with the netting, and you'll end up snapping off loads of shoots to free them

[pambelina79]

I'm a new veg grower and I also just ordered from Marshalls, I got the potato grow kit which was featured in the GYO mag. I asked when I might recieve them and they told me january. They said something about only sending out the potatoes when you the grower can put them straight into the ground. I tried to get mine early by saying they were a present but they said they could not send them out before then.

[gojiberry]

Keep them in the dark and frost free, check them regularly and if they start chitting then move them to a light frost free place. It can be difficult with some varieties to hold them back, my charlotte have all started chitting and they are in the dark at a temp between 0 and 5 deg and still deceided it was time to start shooting.

Ian

[piskieinboots]

got my earlies sent through today

[zazen999]

Got mine yesterday...quite annoyed as our garage is being demolished on monday so I have nowhere cold now to keep them!

[piskieinboots]

....I have nowhere cold now to keep them!

fridge? ......

[sallym]

Piskie and Zazen, did you both order through Marshalls?

[sallym]

OOPs sorry, also forgot to say thanks for all the advice you Guys.