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  • #1

    Supermarket potatoes

    I may have missed the answer to my question in a thread somewhere, so at the risk of repeating something...

    I know that some supermarket taters may be treated to stop them sprouting, but is there any other reason not to use them as seed potatos? My FIL was apoplectic when I mentioned I had done this last year and he would have got rid of them if I let him (two dinky plants worth).

    Thanks
    When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it.
    If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.
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  • #2
    Hi kitty,we use shop spudz as well as odd times the seeds ones,they are fine,put 1 to chit then you will know for yourself peace of mind,potatoes don't have to be chitted,peeps do so so as to advance the seed planting to harvesting time,plus,you know you not have any duffs,
    sigpicAnother nutter ,wife,mother, nan and nanan,love my growing places,seed collection and sharing,also one of these

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    • #3
      I believe that (apart from the possibility of growth inhibitors) the main risk associated with using shop bought spuds is that they're not guaranteed to be virus free - that's not to say that they will have a virus of course. If you're only growing a few plants then I'd continue doing what you're doing, especially if you're growing in pots as there is very limited risk of contamination. Personally I try to grow sufficient spuds to see us through the winter and like to select different varieties so it's worth me buying seed spuds but I'd not worry too much and do what you want.

      Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

      Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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      • #4
        You should give the spuds a good scrub when you get them home to wash off the inhibitor chemical whatever it is called. They should sprout fine then.

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        • #5
          I grow supermarket spuds. Sometimes they don't sprout, but usually they do. I've never had blight or any other kind of problem, with my spuds.
          All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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          • #6
            Likewise, I've always grown shop bought spuds then save some for the following year.
            sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
            --------------------------------------------------------------------
            Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
            -------------------------------------------------------------------
            Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
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            KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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            • #7
              Thanks everyone. I did grow them in bags last year and will do the same again this year. I do have some seed taters but fancied the wee apache ones. They taste lovely

              Went to the eco village at Findhorn today so it was a post and run question. Just home with a longing to move house!
              When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it.
              If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

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              • #8
                Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
                I grow supermarket spuds. Sometimes they don't sprout, but usually they do. I've never had blight or any other kind of problem, with my spuds.
                I usually have trouble stopping the blooming things sprouting before I can eat them!
                Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
                Endless wonder.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by KittyColdNose View Post
                  Thanks everyone. I did grow them in bags last year and will do the same again this year. I do have some seed taters but fancied the wee apache ones. They taste lovely .................................
                  Yes, Apache - I'm giving them a try too. Potatoes from T***O, I've got them chitting right now - a few sturdy spruts emerging and I will grow the in large pots. - Will let you know how I get along

                  a-a

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                  • #10
                    Usually lots of arguements about this aspect.
                    I usually grow my potato's in containers and find that places like Wilkinsons and Poundland sell nice sized packs of 4,5, or 8 which suit me perfectly. Also 2 or 3 good sized garden centre's have a selection of loose ones to buy.

                    Have grown ones like Pink Fur Apple and Anya from the supermarket offerings, being only ever small amounts I have picked up a pack of either when reduced. Eaten most planted a few. Always been quite good crop.

                    I tend to look on it that they may not have gone through the seed potato check aspect but they have gone through the human food check aspect.

                    Additionally the supermarkets can have ones that I cannot buy in small quantities, mayan gold being one that I cannot see at a garden centre but can in a supermarket.

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                    • #11
                      Hi Kirk.

                      I agree with you. If it is fit for human consumption then I would hope it was disease free. I actually had better luck last year with the supermarket ones than the seed potato from a garden centre.

                      Think I will experiment with both again (in tubs/bags).
                      When weeding, the best way to make sure you are removing a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it.
                      If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant.

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                      • #12
                        There's no reason if you have spare left over from a supermarket batch, not to stick them in a grow bag. They will most likely grow and produce a fairly decent crop, if all you are after are a few spuds for the table. Quite a few of mine start turning leggy after a week or so in the veggie bowl, so there is obviously plenty of life in them! However I put them out for compost, as I prefer growing from controlled stocks of seed potatoes - personal preference.

                        If you find supermarket spuds give you the results you want, then great, keep planting them. But often the specialised garden centres can offer all sorts of weird and wonderful varieties to allow you to harvest spuds from May to November if you wish, and they don't cost that much overall. I've sourced twelve varieties this year, enough for fourteen grow bags and a 30ft row of maincrop, for the princely sum of £13.50. That's over 100 seed potatoes, or about 13p each. I'm happy with that!

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                        • #13
                          Most of my potatoes last year were bought seed potatoes, but the allotment trading shop's supplier didn't have Rudolphs so I used some Asda Extra Special ones. They came up a treat.

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                          • #14
                            I bought discounted about 7 kg albert potaoes all egg size.All cost lees than £1 I will give them a go, they stat chitting already :-)
                            Last edited by Atta; 16-01-2019, 05:33 PM.

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                            • #15
                              I hope they grow well.
                              You do realise this thread is nearly 6 year's old? Still nothing much changes

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