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Supermarket anya potato vs seed one?
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Message 1.Ìý
Posted by Lokelani (U8896212) on Tuesday, 13th March 2012
I haven't grown potatoes for years as the dog would dig them all up & eat them!
I thought I'd have another go in a huge tub I can protect from him.
If the only reason for buying seed potatoes is to avoid introducing disease into the soil then I wondered if I could just chit a few of my Sainsbury's Anyas & see what happens.
If it's a definite no no & they won't produce decent spuds then I won't waste the compost or time watering & will wait until I can get somewhere to buy seed ones.
I buy proper garlic as I need to be sure that the variety grows well in this country, which is impossible to know from supermarket ones. Anyas however being available as supermarket & seed spuds should in theory be the same? -
Message 2
Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Tuesday, 13th March 2012
Hi, Lokelani,
This is a grey subject. Some posters who have planted supermarket spuds report no problems growing them, saying they are comparable to seed potatoes.
I buy seed potatoes and have always had a successful crop, the odd variety has had a bit of scab on but this hasn't affected the yield or taste of the spuds compared to other seed varieties.
For the past two years I've bought some varieties from potato fairs believing these too were seed potatoes. I was given to understand seed potatoes are disease free, this year when I got the spuds home noticed scab on my potato fair bought Red Duke of York, clearly not disease free seed spuds
On the basis of this I assume last years potato fair spuds weren't seed varieties either but got quite a good yield from them though.
A further point to bear in mind after working out the cost of my spuds this year they were only about 15p to 20p each.
You need to make up your mind which is the best buy and likely to be most succesful, if uncertain about supermarket bought spuds edge your bets and just plant up a bag of five or six. -
Message 3
Posted by tattiebogle (U11728394) on Tuesday, 13th March 2012
Hi Lokelani
If you go for supermarket potatoes, make sure you chit them and you'll see whether they are going to sprout properly or not. And also if you go for supermarket ones I would buy organic as I believe ordinary potatoes have been sprayed with a chemical to prevent or at least delay sprouting.
I planted 3 supermarket potatoes a few years ago. Only 2 survived but the results from those 2 were good. -
Message 4
Posted by Lokelani (U8896212) on Wednesday, 14th March 2012
Some good points to consider there.
It's convenience as much as cost, I haven't seen Anya in the garden centres & if I mail order the postage does make the cost not worth bothering as I'm only doing one big tub for now.
The organic thing makes good sense, but I don't think I've seen organic Anyas. I'll have a look though.
It sounds like it might be worth chitting a few to try. I remember from growing before it's a dark sprout I need, not the white ones that are produced if left in the cupboard too long! So I'll pop some in an eggbox on the kitchen windowsill & see if they sprout. If they do I'll try then, if they don't I'll know not to bother!
Does now seem the right time to start chitting? I think they're a second early & I'm in West Sussex, so not overly chilly. -
Message 5
Posted by AlinaW (U2220240) on Wednesday, 14th March 2012
Potatoes are no longer sprayed to prevent sprouting, and haven't been for a number of years. They are merely kept in cool enough temperatures to prevent growth.
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Message 6
Posted by Vixxihibiscus (U13865184) on Wednesday, 14th March 2012
On a positive note. They'll be in a tub so if worst comes to worst and they go bad, just dispose of the compost in your brown bin. At least you won't have contaminated the soul in your veg patch. I say you have nothing to lose
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Message 7
Posted by Lokelani (U8896212) on Thursday, 15th March 2012
Exactly, that's why I'm considering it, I'm not risking introducing disease into my actual garden soil.
I shall report back on the test!
Does anyone know, is it a bit like garlic if you plant larger cloves you get larger garlic heads. Should I plant the larger or smaller Anyas? -
Message 8
Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Thursday, 15th March 2012
It doesn't make much difference what size you plant, I've read some growers cut the larger spuds in half before planting making sure there are shoots on both halves.
I usualy plant all mine but if I had the luxury of choosing, would plant the ones with most shoots on -
Message 9
Posted by also (U14824616) on Saturday, 17th March 2012
Hi Lokelani,
I planted some supermarket spuds last year which were given to me by a friend as they had sprouted (chitted) in his cupboard, and got a good crop.
My old dad never ever bought seed potatoes when I was young and always had good results.
During the war people grew potatoes from peelings, so to answer your question about using the larger or smaller potatoes for sowing, I don't think it matters.
You could even cut the larger ones up to get more plants as long as each piece has a sprout on it. But after cutting, leave them out to dry for a few hours before planting.
When turning over my compost heap, I have even found plants growing from the peelings in the heap.
Hope that helps, and good luck -
Message 10
Posted by Vixxihibiscus (U13865184) on Saturday, 17th March 2012
I believe it's better to have a few good strong sprouts than lots of wee ones. The idea being that you get a few larger potatoes than a load of wee ones. Depends if you're after baker sized ones or salad morsels? Try a bag of each? Could be an interesting trial this!
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Message 11
Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Saturday, 17th March 2012
Has anyone planted out their spuds yet.
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Message 12
Posted by Plot74 (U15190250) on Saturday, 17th March 2012
Has anyone planted out their spuds yet.
Ìý Depends on the part of the country you are in me being in the northern part of England I will wait a couple of weeks yet then keep an eye on the forecast .
Cover any shoots that come through. -
Message 13
Posted by Lokelani (U8896212) on Monday, 19th March 2012
I think even in the south we're a long way from the last frost date, but it sounds like I should start chitting them at least.
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Message 14
Posted by also (U14824616) on Monday, 19th March 2012
Has anyone planted out their spuds yet.
Hi, yes I planted some early potaoes about 6 weeks ago under glass, and put them a bit deep, and some are just showing now.
I am desperate to remove the glass, but after last nights heavy frost, I will have to wait a bit longer.
also this week I put some spuds in some bags which I hope will be o.k.
I do live down south near the M4 and have sown loads of seeds, mainly salad stuff ( I am a bit impatient) so am keeping my fingers crossed, although radishes and beetroot are already poking their heads out.
If not all successful it's not the end of the world as I always seem to have more seeds than I need, so will will have to resow when weather permits. -
Message 15
Posted by Lokelani (U8896212) on Wednesday, 28th March 2012
Yes the nights are still very cold here in the South, even though the days are so warm!
Mine are still chitting on the windowsill now. -
Message 16
Posted by Pumpkin_Patch_Paul (U14565900) on Wednesday, 28th March 2012
Trouble with all this is that I have just bought a 2.5kg bag for less than a quid from my supermarket.....Compost,watering,feed,ect makes you wonder if it's realy worth all the effort...
PPP -
Message 17
Posted by Global_Worming (U14532104) on Thursday, 29th March 2012
Has anyone planted out their spuds yet.
Hi, yes I planted some early potaoes about 6 weeks ago under glass, and put them a bit deep, and some are just showing now.
I am desperate to remove the glass, but after last nights heavy frost, I will have to wait a bit longer.
also this week I put some spuds in some bags which I hope will be o.k.
I do live down south near the M4 and have sown loads of seeds, mainly salad stuff ( I am a bit impatient) so am keeping my fingers crossed, although radishes and beetroot are already poking their heads out.
If not all successful it's not the end of the world as I always seem to have more seeds than I need, so will will have to resow when weather permits.Ìý My cold frame International Kidneys were through about a week ago. I planted all out door pots by last Sunday.
I use my own seeds from last yrs crop.
We live in North Wales. -
Message 18
Posted by also (U14824616) on Monday, 2nd April 2012
Hi Global-Worming,
Good luck with your spuds, Mine got frost bite on Friday night because I left the covers off. so had to cover up again. I'm sure they will recover as I had some with worse frost damage last year and they were recovered.
Some Italian climbing beans I had in my mini greenhouse also got frost damage, although other types were o.k. so not too bad, but it seems we have lots more frost to come yet.
I know someone who lives in north Wales and they seem to have quite a mild climate so maybe your luckier than some of us. -
Message 19
Posted by Swedboy (U14400604) on Monday, 2nd April 2012
I did exactly this last year with one Anya potato from Sainsbury in a pot. It worked fine but I didn't get a fantastic crop. Might be down to the fact I had it in a small pot and might have dug it up too early. Nothing did really well in my garden last year so I can't say whether I dug it up too early or did something else wrong.
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Message 20
Posted by Global_Worming (U14532104) on Tuesday, 3rd April 2012
Hello Also, when the kidneys started showing I dumped about 12" of my home made seaweed compost on them. They are just showing through again so because of the frost I gave them another blanket.
For the last three yrs my veg patch earlies cop the frost, they still crop well so I dont worry any more. -
Message 21
Posted by Lokelani (U8896212) on Tuesday, 3rd April 2012
The only problem so far is that they are still sitting on the windowsill refusing to sprout!
I'm also trying a few Exquisitas from Tesco & they're going green, which the Anyas aren't, but also showing no signs of sprouting yet. I presume the green isn't a problem as I'm only using them as seed potatoes?
As I saw a pack of Charlotte seed pots in Sainsburys for £2 I bought them in case mine all fail. They are chitting nicely even though they've been on the windowsill only half the time.
I guess I'll give them a little longer (as it's frosty too) & then plant anyway & see what happens. I can't remember what happened in the Gardener's World trial, did they find chitting worth it or not? -
Message 22
Posted by Swedboy (U14400604) on Tuesday, 3rd April 2012
Forgot to say I didn't chit mine.
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Message 23
Posted by marinelilium (U8293024) on Thursday, 5th April 2012
Took this pic a few minutes ago.
It is the haulm of just one of the potatoes I planted last week. Not a seed potato, not chitted but plonked into an almost full composter. It is an experiment to see if the secret to last year's happy accident is constant warmth.
Last year I had thrown 'past it' kitchen spuds into the bin and as it was almost I used the other bins. Only noticed lush growth at end of May so I left it and harvested kilos of buttery, bug and slug free potatoes in July.
I did nothing ....no watering, no earthing up other than dumping some shredded paper and lo and behold! It means my composter isn't hot enough really, but who knows maybe a pineapple next year?
Will let you know if the composter works as well this year.
MLx -
Message 24
Posted by Lokelani (U8896212) on Friday, 6th April 2012
That's great!
I wonder if it's okay to plant the ones that have gone very green indeed & not produced shoots? Anyone know?
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