Can I use last years potatoes?

[thingybobby]

Being a bit disorganised this year, I've not yet bought any seed potatoes.

I've half a sack of last year's crop which are starting to sprout and I wondered if it was worth trying to plant these.

I know the seedsmen will go on about disease and such like, but if we can save other seed to use, why not spuds?????

[Two_Sheds]

I would. Bung them in, they've got 2 choices

[rustylady]

The reason for buying new seed potatoes each year is to try and control virus diseases. However, I've had some excellent results with supermarket spuds that have sprouted in the kitchen cupboard and been planted out to take their chances. If you've sprouting potatoes plant them

[Don Vincenzo]

Being a bit disorganised this year, I've not yet bought any seed potatoes.

I've half a sack of last year's crop which are starting to sprout and I wondered if it was worth trying to plant these.

I know the seedsmen will go on about disease and such like, but if we can save other seed to use, why not spuds?????

Hello!!
In the past I have been using left over sprouting potatoes from whatever sources without any problems. I also noticed that missed harvested potatoes from the previous year do come earlier and stronger!!. I presume that rotation is the answer to avoid disease and only use the same potatoes once, but my ancestors used their own potatoes seeds for ever and still do it now. One interesting aspect of gardening is that once I asked a friend of my from Madeira to buy and bring back some veg. seeds from there...the answer was that you cannot buy seeds from shops as everybody uses their own selected seeds or exchange / obtaining with / from friends.
My best regards
Don Vincenzo

[cheshire61]

your asking for trouble i tryed it and failed thats why you can buy certified seed potatos it up to you
also if your on an allotment site you could infect other plotholders potatos with disease

[Don Vincenzo]

your asking for trouble i tryed it and failed thats why you can buy certified seed potatos it up to you
also if your on an allotment site you could infect other plotholders potatos with disease

Hello Cheshire
You have to excuse me to say this but you need to go a bit more deep on this. I do or think to understand what you are trying to / or saying but please illuminate my humble brain. ( Stopping smoking has side effects )
Regards
Don Vincenzo

[cheshire61]

ok i have seen disease from planting non certified seed potatos

[Alison]

dont be so rude and get a brain

Excuse me Cheshire61, do you really need to be so sharp, it was only a request for further information!

[cheshire61]

sorry alison but the bit about smoking upset me i have tryed hard to give it up and do not deserve remarks about it
i do appoligise

[Alison]

Ahhh, don't think it was aimed at you, seem to remember that Don Vincenzo is trying to give up so was blaming that for his not understanding! Makes more sense now.

[cheshire61]

ok i have seen disease from planting non certified seed potatos

i have no photographic proff though
but when the plotholder dug them up they where rotten not through blight

[cheshire61]

oh alison i did'nt realise Don Vincenzo was trying to give up the fags
i finally stopped 3 years ago with the aid of a product from the doctors called zyban so Don Vincenzo theres the answer to stoping smoking anyway

im off to my allotment now
bye and happy gardening

[cheshire61]

i put my hands up my mistake

sorry Don Vincenzo

[Don Vincenzo]

oh alison i did'nt realise Don Vincenzo was trying to give up the fags
i finally stopped 3 years ago with the aid of a product from the doctors called zyban so Don Vincenzo theres the answer to stoping smoking anyway

im off to my allotment now
bye and happy gardening

Hello Cheshire61 & Alison
I am in my fourth week of giving up smoking, missing a little but winning the battle ( A war in my case ). Going back to growing potatoes from last year harvest I have to mention that my ancestors have / had land situated 800 metres above sea level and that combined with crop rotation would help to have desease free potatoes. Usually I use a three year rotation for potatoes, tomatoes and even longer for perennial cabbage. Usually if I have sprouting potatoes from whatever source, simply I cannot put them in the compost bin and if I have spare place ( usually in large pots ) I plant them with decent to excellent results. Responsible gardening is a must in order to avoid the spreading of deseases so I am with you Cheshire61. My best regards to you and Alison.
Don Vincenzo

[Protea]

Back to the OP's question, if they are your own spuds that you grew last year, and there were no obvious signs of disease on the plants, i.e. no blight, obvious viruses (mottled/strange coloured leaves), premature dieback etc... then you should be fine. However - if you want to save seed again i would carefully monitor this years crop to check for signs of disease and specifically select plants with good vigour and good tubers to save seed from, rather than take pot luck.

If you know you had a lot of aphids on your crop i would be wary as it is usually aphids (peach potato aphid and potato aphid in particular) that carry viruses, if you didnt - then stick 'em in and see what happens!

I wouldn't use supermarket spuds personally - as not only have they been treated with CIPC which is a sprout suppressant in store, they are more likely to carry disease that didn't necessarily affect that particular potato, but may well infect its progeny (does that make sense?)