Home saved seed potatoes

[Palustris]

Since we do not eat that many potatoes and have still got sacks of first earlies, Concorde and Seconds Carling ford and Nadine left over, can we use the small ones of these as 'seeds' for next year. Or are we likely to introduce unpleasantnesses by doing so?

[Palustris]

[sandersj89]

There is a risk of increased chances of virus or other problems resulting in poor or no yields.

But the risk can be partially mitigated if you grow on ground not used for a number of years for spuds, a gap of at least three years is best.

If you crop last year was healthy and they have stored well I don't think there is a massive problem in using some of the smaller tubers. Do not use the real tiddlers, hens egg size is a good size and look for spuds with 6 or more eyes on them.

Jerry

[mm-b]

Hi
I am no expert and I'm sure those with lots of experience may disagree with me, but when I was a kid the potatoes grown were ones out the pantry which had started growing roots and you just stuck them in the ground and they grew. So if your potatoes came from good stock, I see no reason not to save them and use them.
Melanie :)

[ruudbarb]

If you grew them yourself and are sure they are disease free, then why not pop them in a plot that's not had spuds on for 3 or more years but if you want to be certain then grow ffresh seed ones and plant fewer.  This is to prevent diseases and the infestetion of the dreaded eel-worm.

[philcooper]

Melanie

The stock you planted is only half the story, the other half is what happened since it was planted, there is the chance of viruses carried by aphids (unless you live in northern Scotland) and other soilborne problems such as eelworm, as Clod Hooper says.

As a certified seed tuber will cost around 10p it seems a small investment to make!

Phil

[gavin]

And there's the potatoes growing around you - with everybody else's bugs, beasties and viruses?

More true on an allotment site, where there's a "variety of growing practices" (and a huge reservoir of exotic infections?).

All best - Gavin

[mm-b]

philcooper
I was saying that this was what we did when I was a child (lots of years ago!!!). Now I buy seed potatoes.
If Palustris potatoes came from seed potatoes purchased from reputable suppliers then wheres the harm?
Melanie

[Palustris]

Since we practice a three year rotation, it would be at least 3 years since potatoes were grown on the site where this years crop is to grow. And the new area is at least 30 feet and a grass path away from last years position. Last years crop suffered no problems other than the normal blight, though in fact all the store potatoes were lifted before that arrived.
As to each seed pot. costing 10p, it may be for you, but for us to buy the 4 or 5 spuds we need to plant in the varieties we want, means a 60 mile round trip, so add the cost of 2 gallons of petrol on to it. We have never found anywhere local which supplies anything other than the large bags (2k or more) or unbagged 'common' varieties which do not grow well on our land.
I take on board your comments though, it was just a thought. We have always bought in certificated Scottish seed before and will probably do so this year too.

[ruudbarb]

Hi Palustris - I also find the quantities too many to be able to grow the range I'd like to so I use up mine in a second and even third planting a few weeks later, often in May and early June.  I have been happily surprised at the quality of crop obtained from the part shrivelled things I've planted and eating fresh 'scrapers' through August suits me.   ;D ;D ;D

[philcooper]

I understood the original question to be about using uneaten "ware" potatoes - those not grown under certified conditions and therefore possibly affected by disease.

Growing from uncertified seed or not removing "volunteers" (those unharvested tubers from last year which appear in the allotment/compost heap) is a major source of disease - later on in the year there is will be a website which shows outbreaks of blight and identifies the source - the majority of which tend to be volunteers

I'm sorry for those who are forced to buy at high prices - there's a thread on the subject - Potato Seed Prices. Allotment trading huts and gardening clubs offer the lowest prices. Large suppliers such as WCF Phoenix will sell 25kg bags to groups (at quite low prices) so if you don't have a local source, you can gang up to get an order.

Provided I don't get inundated a can offer a limited mail order service to those on the board - the price of individual tubers is 9 per £1 - 2.5kg nets are from £2.80 to £4.50 (for varieties such as Pink Fir Apple and Ratte) plus postage at cost. The list is accessible via www.hhdra.org.uk/potatoday.htm. I can't do Sarpo Mira as I only have 25kg for over a 1,000 customers!! T&M are doing an offer of 20 for £3.99

[djbrenton]

All good points Phil. Unless someone lives a long way from any other allotment sites the chances are that someone locally bulk orders, and as you say sells at very reasonable prices. Our hut sells for between 65p and 90p a kilo and makes a profit. At those prices it doesn't make sense to save seed. Most councils have a list of sites and the larger ones at least are likely to be able to supply other lottie holders to order.
Anyone thinking that travelling to a potato day is an added cost could perhaps just see it as a daytrip instead with the bonus of being able to buy what you want cheaply. I've already got my bulk order but am still going to Ryton for fun.

[RSJK]

There is nothing wrong what so ever with planting home saved seed, I worked on a family run market garden for over 30 years, and every year we grew so many own saved seed, which were mainly the small (egg size) and green potatoes, they were saved out of the previously years scotch seed, no problems
with them at all they cropped just as good as the scotch seed.

[growmore]

Didn't We used to be able to buy seed tatties at reduced price that were called once grown seed  potatoes,? or was name something like 2nd year seed potatoes? I seem to remember them....Jim..

[ruudbarb]

I seem to recall 'once grown' seed potatoes on sale just after WWII and into the 50s but no doubt that was either banned or discouraged in order to protect the potato harvests.  Certainly there is a major risk of getting eelworm infestation and other diseases although blight attacks new seed plants just as readily as o.g. but there are now some varieties with better resistance to that.  I remember my father talking about a farmer friend who had serious eelworm problems after using the same ground for 5 or 6 years and lost a large chunk of his income as a result.  I think he had to keep potatoes and some other root crops off it for something like 10 years. 

And there was me imagining little eels in the ground eating his potatoes............... ::) ::) ::)