Potatoes not growing

[Andyste1]

I bought a pack of 10 first earlies from a garden centre about 6 weeks ago, which went straight into the shed, unheated, by a north-facing window. They already had very small stumpy shoots (3-4mm at most) but did nothing in the four weeks they were in the shed. I planted them out two weeks ago but left a couple in the shed, which still haven't done anything.

Considering how fast supermarket spuds sprout in the kitchen cupboard, Is it safe to assume these are write-offs, and if so why?

[WendyC]

Try bringing them indoors for the warmth and see what happens. They may have been frosted in the shed, in which case they are not going to grow. Where are you?

[MarkPelican]

If you've space I would leave them alone. I am waiting a couple of weeks yet before I plant my potatoes and then it will be a further couple of weeks before they show.

[Andyste1]

Try bringing them indoors for the warmth and see what happens. They may have been frosted in the shed, in which case they are not going to grow. Where are you?

I'm in North Wales. The shed thermometer showed a minimum of 0 so suspect they've been damaged or shocked after being in the relative warmth of the garden centre. I had nowhere else to put them and assumed the house would have been too warm.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Andy, I chit my spuds in the spare (cool) bedroom - in light but not direct sunlight. Bring the spares indoors, as suggested, and see if they start to shoot.
If you're anywhere near a Wilk0s they were selling first earlies half price yesterday.

[bario1]

How deep did you plant them?

[Andyste1]

How deep did you plant them?

4 inches, but I'm concerned that they are all duds as the tiny shoots never grew at all after a month of chitting. A couple of spares (which I left in the shed) still haven't done anything even though the weather has warmed up recently.

First attempt at veg growing so not off to a good start! Cats have also got into the cloches and had a field day digging up my other seed rows, so not too happy!

[vixylix]

I use a cool north facing bathroom so theyre relatively warm - but not in direct sunshine.

Nothing to lose by leaving your planted ones out to see what happens, or by bringing the spares inside likewise.

B&Q had big bags of seed potatoes for £1 today if you want to get some more

[Kirk]

I would just leave them. Chances are that they are simply making up their mind what to do and which way to go.

2 weeks is not a long time considering the change of environment and it has been cool also.

I am also one who never bothers chitting anything, mind you 4" deep seems a bit shallow. I usually put mine in tubs and they are 12-15 inches down.

[bario1]

Be patient, I'm sure they'll come up in time. The chits don't really grow till they're in the ground.