first earlies, is bigger better?

[chilli_grower]

Ok,

I am planting some first earlies tomorrow 'rocket' variety.

THey are chitting nicely.

I have noticed that some of them are maybe 3 inches 'round', and some around half of this size.

Does this make any difference?

I.E should I just plant the bigger ones?

Thank you

[darcyvuqua]

I'm sure they'll all be fine the big ones might initially have a little more energy to begin with but once they throw out roots I think they all produce the same!

I'm not entirely sure so will watch this with interest

[Kristen]

You could cut the bigger ones in half when planting ... or rub some of the eyes off so that the plant is not too crowded ... but I just chuck mine in as-they-are and let them get on with it

[Scarlet]

As Kristen said, you can chop them in half making sure that you have several eyes on each.
I don't think rubbing them off makes a difference, they will grow back if they are not cut out. If I want big spuds I cut the eyes out but the yeild overall tends to be smaller. More eyes equals more spuds.

[chilli_grower]

Gotcha. So are the small seed potatoes just as productive as the bigger ones?

That is what I am really trying to find out!!!!!!

[Bigmallly]

More eyes equals more spuds.

You may find they are smaller if you have too many chits, you are looking for 3 to 4 chits per tattie.

[chilli_grower]

ahhhh ok...

Great, most have 2 or 3 chits, regardless of the size of seed potato....

[Bigmallly]

ahhhh ok...

Great, most have 2 or 3 chits, regardless of the size of seed potato....

Perfick...............

[chilli_grower]

awesome, good to know....

[polc1410]

My understanding is the "seed" acts as an energy source for the spud plant to get its stem above ground. Once out in the light it will use the sun as its energy source.

So its possible a bigger seed would stand a better chance of getting above ground. But when you lift spuds the seed is usually still present (although mushy!) which is a sign that most of the seed's energy was never needed. There are a couple of cases where a big seed may help 1. if you plant them very deep (but most people earth up rather than plant stupidly deep) and 2. if the first lot of leaves were to be frosted and the plant had to fight to get some replacements out...

But provided they both get their leaves out to the sun and aren't then frosted you should get similar sized outputs (subject to whats already been said about number of chits). The bigger seed will just have a bigger bit of mushy seed attached to it!!