Seed potato quantities

[ChocCosmos]

Im looking to buy a couple of small quantities of pre-chitted seed potatoes but looking at various suppliers online, the majority seem to offer fairly large quantities that require (I imagine) a lot of space in the garden or a lot of bags.

I’ve looked at various collection offers and starter kits with bags etc. One supplier offers 3 sacks with 15 tubers but on their growing instruction guide suggests planting 3 in each sack, which is the maximum number of potatoes most people advise putting in a bag. So what are you supposed to do with the remaining ones – if you don’t want to purchase more sacks?

The best I can find in a small quantity is on the T&M site. They offer a 5 tuber pack for £2.29 which is just about the right quantity I want for the price I want to pay – but they’re not pre-chitted!

Anyone else been confronted with this potato glut problem?

[zazen999]

Can you get to a local nursery or garden centre? Once you've paid those prices, pus postage, you may as well buy potatoes from Tescos!

[Victoria26]

I went to B&Q yesterday and they had wee bags of different kinds for 2.99. But I have some supermarket roosters chitting just now, which I'm gonna bung in the soil and see what happens this time.

I'm only planting 2 bags myself as I never seem to have much luck with potatoes. I suggest up to 5 in a bag max. I Usually plant 4 or 5 if they are quite small.

Hope this helps. Good luck

[ChocCosmos]

I went to B&Q yesterday and they had wee bags of different kinds for 2.99. But I have some supermarket roosters chitting just now, which I'm gonna bung in the soil and see what happens this time.

I'm only planting 2 bags myself as I never seem to have much luck with potatoes. I suggest up to 5 in a bag max. I Usually plant 4 or 5 if they are quite small.

Hope this helps. Good luck

Thanks Victoria. Might take a look at B&Q before I order.

I think the small pack I saw seemed OK but they weren't chitted. Is it too late to do this?

[zazen999]

I only chit my earlies, but if I didn't have time they would go in un-chitted.

[Victoria26]

no its not too late to chit them plus they dont take long anyway. I just left mine on the kitchen windowsill and they're doing great.
Chitting a potato breaks the dormancy cycle so I think its important to have a couple of "eyes" on it at least before planting.
Last year mine succumbed to blight. So this year I will be planting them seperate from all of my other crops.

[gojiberry]

Depends on who's potato bag you get as to how many potatoes you can put in. Marshalls are square and you can get 5 tubers in each sack. I also have some round ones that are better with 3 tubers 4 at most. Am hoping for a new camera next week so hopefully will be able to get some pictures on the forum.

Ian

[HotStuff]

Wilkinsons do packs of 5 seed potatoes for £1.

[ChocCosmos]

Hotstuff,

I know this is a very very late thankyou but as they say, better late than never!

I did end up getting my seed potatoes from Wilkinsons. Bought 3 packs (Charlotte, Kestrel and Pink Fir) and split into 5 potato bags. The Charlotte turned out the best, Kestrel got scabbing but still eatable and the Pink Fir I pulled up too early so ruined them!. I'll never forget that feeling of tipping the bag onto the patio and rummaging through the soil. Reminded me of lucky dips as a child!

Will definitely be doing potatoes again this year despite a lot of people saying its not worth the space or the money. One thing though, the Charlottes cooked very quickly and started to break up. I gave some to my sister-in-law and she said the same without me even telling her so I guess it must be the variety?