Potatoe Yields

[Bulbaholic]

I am putting my seed order together for 2010 and am unsure of just what quantity of seed potatoes to order. I would expect to get about 14/15 seed tubers to 1.5kg (agree?) but the only information I can find on yield is from an American Forum. Here they suggesst a return of about 10:1 by weight ie 15 kg for 1.5kg seed. Would you agree with this as a ball park figure? I know that it will vary for variety and growing conditions.
Thanks

[zazen999]

I think it depends on the growing conditions; suppliers will be hesitant to supply yields in case they get grief if it doesn't happen.

The only way I have done it is to grow x tubers, and see when they run out. If it is too early, then I need more tubers and better conditions/fertiliser.

[Two_Sheds]

As Zazen says, growing conditions influence your final yield.

I expect to get 'about' 6-8 spuds per seed myself, but I don't feed them, water them or do very much. If you do, you'll likely get more.

[gojiberry]

If you look at some of the potato threads you will find that yield can vary considerably. If you are growing potatoes for the first time then I would suggest that you keep your expectations low and you wont be disappointed. I always grow charlotte plus at least two others and am always disappointed with the others as charlotte always does so well on my plot.

Ian

[coreopsis]

I am putting my seed order together for 2010 and am unsure of just what quantity of seed potatoes to order. I would expect to get about 14/15 seed tubers to 1.5kg (agree?) but the only information I can find on yield is from an American Forum. Here they suggesst a return of about 10:1 by weight ie 15 kg for 1.5kg seed. Would you agree with this as a ball park figure? I know that it will vary for variety and growing conditions.
Thanks

Ask yourself what's the size of your growing space for spuds?Mine were planted in rows about 1' apart ,rows were about 2' apart-so approximately for 30 seeds spuds the patch was 6' wide(limited by paths from both sides) and 12' long.Next growing season I'm going to have 4 tattie patches roughly the same size.I could imagine they could be planted more apart but I'm growing in my back garden-hence limited space.I wouldn't plant any more than I had.
As for the yield-I'll back up the others-depends on the variety and growing conditions.Some suppliers include the info about yielding.

BTW,welcome to the Vine,nice to see someone not too far away from me

[tattieman]

A 2.5kg pack will average around 30 tubers.
A 2.5kg pack of first earlies would plant 2 rows 3 metres long if planted 8-10 inches apart and 24 inches between the centres of the rows. Total area 60sq feet or 5.4sq metres.

A 2.5kg pack of second earlies or maincrops would plant 2 rows 4.5 metres long planted 12 inches apart with a gap of 28 inches between the row centres. Total area 105sq feet or 9.45sq metres.

I am glad I put that in my potato book as it saves me having to work it all out again.

[coreopsis]

I thougt that mine were a bit squished but still got good return from Desiree-PFA didn't do so well.Glad I worked it out well- thought to get 1 seed spud bag for 1 patch.Thanks Tattieman

[Bulbaholic]

Thanks for your feedback, everyone. At the end of the day I think it will just come down to the amount of land I have available. One small pack 1st earlies, one small pack 2nd earlies and the rest as maincrop. I will only want enough to store until the beginning of the year as I find that they start to go soft after that.
Pleased to meet you tattieman as you have just been recommended to me. I will probably be ordering from you so you should be advising me to buy even more :0).
Nice to meet you, also, coreopsis, I expect that you have the same freezing weather that we have. Snowing again now!

[tattieman]

Glad the information has helped everyone. I provide the information gladly so that everyone can make an informed decision. By the way I should mention that there is now a new King of the Blight resistant throne and its name is Setanta. It has a better blight resistance and is actually great to eat.

[quark1]

You may find this link useful as it covers many varieties - for container grown spuds

Potatoes in pots / containers - DIVERSITY WEBSITE