Optimum size for a seed potato?

[Peppermint]

Having read Snadger's post about shallots and found there is an optimum size to pick, I want to avoid the same dithering about what size seed potato I should pick when I go in next week to pick loose seed potatoes. They are supposed to be in the shop on Monday and I'll be dashing down at lunch time.

What is the best size to pick? Should I go for small ones or would larger ones have a better start and produce more tubers?

I'll probably be getting first and second earlies and perhaps one main crop variety.

[allotment grower]

average size of seed potatoes are the size of a large hens egg..

there is no fixed size it different for all varieties first earlys and seconds are usually smaller international kidney { jersey royals } are a slightly longer tuber..

choose clean potatoes not damaged or scab marks..

i am growing the following this year.

charlotte. second earlys crop - boiling / salards
international kidney / jersey royals. main crop - boiling salards.
picasso main crop. - boiling general use - good disease resistance.

[Alison]

It also depends on how you are charged. If you're paying per potato then go bigger (you can cut them up so long as you leave eyes on each of them if you want too ) but if it's by the weight then smaller could be better.

[veggiechicken]

Sometimes they're sold by the paper bagful and it depends on how many you can pack in. Its worth taking your time to pack them in carefully to maximise the number. This is where smaller ones are better.

[Chef_uk]

My catalogue order contains a mix from conker size to pool ball size. The larger ones seem to be more sturdy.

[Peppermint]

Thank you everyone. I think it will be by weight, I seem to remember wandering into the seed section last year and seeing loose seed potatoes. So I'll spend my time carefully selecting the best that I can whilst trying to maximise the number in the paper bag.

[Two_Sheds]

They always say 'size of a hen's egg' but Bob F. says big seed will yield big spuds ... not sure how true that is, someone should do a trial

I've tried, but come mid-summer my labels are muddled and I've completely forgotten which were small and which were large seeds