Potatoes... which to use

[witch-1]

I brought 'seeders' from a rather expensive garden centre.

Can I use the ones from the supermarket? They seem to root well if left too long in my kitchen (I'm trying to find cheaper ways of gaining spuds! )

Also, how do you get the nice big baking potatoes? Is it just a case of leaving them in the ground longer? A real novice here I'm afraid - just to say my seeders have come up nicely, be exciting to see what lurks beneath the ground!

Thanks
Jan

[Flummery]

You CAN use supermarket spuds - some people swear by them. However, you are going to get guaranteed virus free stock from a seed potato supplier. Baking potatoes are usually maincrop and some varieties do better than others as bakers. I only grow earlies - lack of space in the garden.

[witch-1]

Thank you... I may try a mix of both, see what happens then.

I have't much space either - only have 4 small beds. So may leave the bakers.

Jan
x

[Alice]

If you're pushed for space Witch you could grow potatoes in a bucket or container. B&Q do buckets for a £1 and the Pound shop have big containers they're calling compost bins. There's lots about the method on here if you look for it.
If you grow in a container you can use supermarket spuds as there's no risk of contaminating your ground. I never use maincrop as it's not worthwhile where space is short. I grow salad potatoes. Charlotte are always excellent and this year tried Cherie which were also excellent. They take about 13 weeks to be ready. Good luck with the project.
These potatoes from buckets have already been eaten this year.




The red ones are Cherie and the pale ones Charlotte. Last year I also grew Nadine and Nicola which were very good. (Sounds like the dancing girls)

[rustylady]

Baking potatoes are usually maincrop varieties which are left in the ground a long time. Only really worthwhile if you have loads of space. I tend to concentrate on earlies as I love the taste of fresh spuds straight from the lottie to the pan. Earlies and maincrop are usually different varieties, check with your seed potato supplier for which is which. Loads of different varieties for different purposes and it can get confusing. You can certainly grow sprouting potatoes left over from the kitchen, but if you don't know what variety they are you won't know how long to leave them in the ground, or how best to use them. Seed potatoes from specialist suppliers are guaranteed virus free and usually have growing and cooking information on the packaging.

[witch-1]

Thanks again... I think I shall try some pots in pots

We don't eat an awful lot of spuds (kids don't like new ones??? but I remember being similar) and I can't physically eat alot (another story).

So a few in pots just to see would be good - I can always pass them on if good.

Jan

[Alice]

If nobody in the house wants to eat potatoes matbe you could grow something else. You could get a tomamto plant or a cucumber or a crop of runner beans out of the same space.

[witch-1]

LOL we do eat potatoes but not alot...but we don't eat alot of anything.
I am restricted in how much I can eat, and having two children that don't appreciate good food (yet!). We have small beds and are trying out 'growing our own' for the first time. We have chosen veg that most of us do eat - carrots, runners and potatoes, but also added parsnips (not doing well), leeks and some purple brussel sprouts!

Unfortunately in our rush, we didn't realise you didn't use the whole seed packet if not needed. So are using this year as our experimental time... and will be more selective next season.

Hence my question about baking potatoes too.

We also have garlic, cucumber, tomatoes and a courgette going in growbags or containers. And I have added to my herbs this year.

Just ordered cloches to protect my baby carrot plants.

Jan

[pigletwillie]

Marfona grow into baking type potatoes and are a quality spud. We grow a few in tubs and harvest as per any maincrop potato.

[Flummery]

The red ones are Cherie and the pale ones Charlotte. Last year I also grew Nadine and Nicola which were very good. (Sounds like the dancing girls)

We had a family at the school where I worked who had called their 2 older girls Kirsty and Cara (both spud varieties). I was deeply disappointed when the youngest member started school. Can't even remember her name - because it wasn't a spud!

[coxievans]

my spuds are now flowering, not in a compost bin or between my toes.lol, mine are early spuds, i have grown in big pots before but you get more in the growned.