Potato seeds

[rary]

I have several potato seed pods, so was thinking of sowing them to see what I get next year, I know it might be too early for sowing them now, but when should I sow potato seed

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

You can sow some second earlies now for a Chrismad crop!

[rary]

Thanks Deano but its potato seeds not seed potatoes, but thanks for the reminder I will get some into pots for Christmas

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Well you lost me there Rary! coz I ain't gotta a clue what a potatoe seed is!

[Snadger]

TPS are true potato seeds. Resemble small tomatoes but are lethal to eat.They need to be striated methinks, ie given a cold spell. They would need to be sown early in the year from January on with heat.

Grew one this year but i haven't tipped the bucket out yet to see if any tubers had formed.

[rary]

Thanks Snadger I will keep them outside and hope it gets cold enough up here to get them started, and will need to keep them well out the way in case one of the grandkids think they are green tomatoes

[Potstubsdustbins]

If I am right they can fall off the plant so pets are at risk as well.

[poly]

Have you harvested any of seeds from the berries yet Rary? I haven't started yet (I didn't get my seed potatoes planted until quite late this year) although I seem to be collecting quite a few berries on window sills to ripen. I'm not sure giving potato seeds (tps) a cold spell is necessary? I know I don't and still get germination. I do usually ferment the seed, like you would with tomatoes, it helps to remove the gel which contains a germination inhibitor.

Sowing in February or at the beginning of March should give good results. What variety are the tps from?

[Bren In Pots]

I've got potato seeds on a un-named Purple potato I was given. So is it as easy as saving the inside seeds, then sowing them Feb to March or am I missing something?

[vixylix]

NG did some things with them a few years ago, I never quite got round to it!

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...t-thing-5.html

[Bren In Pots]

Thanks for the link Vix

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

TPS are true potato seeds. Resemble small tomatoes but are lethal to eat.They need to be striated methinks, ie given a cold spell. They would need to be sown early in the year from January on with heat.

Grew one this year but i haven't tipped the bucket out yet to see if any tubers had formed.

Aargh! Now I'm with it!

That must be a slow time consuming process and interest to have!

But wish all who want to venture every success!

[Snadger]

Aargh! Now I'm with it!

That must be a slow time consuming process and interest to have!

But wish all who want to venture every success!

I think the idea is that growing potatoes in hot countries like Africa is problematical for using seed tatties as the potato would shrivel in the ground in the heat. By using TPS they can be started off then planted out as plants. There are also transport costs to take into account methinks?

[poly]

I've got potato seeds on a un-named Purple potato I was given. So is it as easy as saving the inside seeds, then sowing them Feb to March or am I missing something?

Basically yes! Growing potatoes from tps (tps = true potato seeds which, for anyone who hasn't come across the term, are the actual seeds from the almost green tomato looking berries potato plants sometimes produce, following where the flowers have been) is about as difficult as growing tomatoes. But admittedly end results can be variable depending on type saved and growing conditions amongst other things, although I have to say on the whole they give great results. If you want something a little bit different from what's on offer from the seed potatoes offered from the big seed companies, then give tps growing a chance. In my experience results are well worth the input, though I can quite see that it is not for everyone.

Basically I love colours both in tubers and flowers, also tasty, waxy long fingerling types are a passion, I love the bi- coloured or two tone tubers and find different shapes and eye depths so attractive, Late Blight resistance is a big priority here as is growing in a fairly wet environment. I so love the wonderful array of types diploid potatoes share. I'd be hard pushed to only grow mainstream types now I've had a taste of growing potatoes from tps!

[Bren In Pots]

Thanks Poly do they need to stay on the plant to ripen ? I've got some small net gift bags that I could put on the seed potatoes so I don't lose them when they fall of.