Planting Potatoes

[m4rky]

Hi guys, this is my first post so please be gentle :-)

I have just started my own container veg garden.
I have planted most from seeds.

Now I want to plant some spuds.

First am I too late to plant them??

Second, where can I get Seed Potatoes from.
I have been to a couple of my local garden centres and they don;t have any.
I have had done a search on Google and either found places sold out or only selling several Kilos.

I don't really want to spend £10-20 on some seed potatoes when I only have room to plant 3 or 4!!

Thanks,

Mark

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Mark, welcome to our forum! Seed potatoes go on sale in the garden centres in January and online seed merchants usually sell out pretty quickly so I very much doubt that you will be able to find any now. Garden centres do sell small packs of heritage seed potatoes and these will be an ideal size for you, plus you will be able to grow something different to the 'norm' but you are going to have to wait until next year now.

[m4rky]

Thanks for the reply.

I'll have to wait until Jan then...

Is it worth trying to grow your own from old spuds bought at the supermarket??

[malcolmx]

no do not plant spuds from super markets as the shoots are usually weak and the tubers have not sufficient food to maintain growth . just look around in any garden centers near you and if you find any give them a good soak in weak liquid feed (2 days) and plant immediately in your tubs water and feed as soon as any green shoots appear and earth up asap

good luck Haskins are often a good source as they bye loads and never sell them all or Wyvale (nobody goes there)

[Spuds Up]

Originally Posted by m4rky

Second, where can I get Seed Potatoes from.
I have been to a couple of my local garden centres and they don;t have any.
I have had done a search on Google and either found places sold out or only selling several Kilos.

Mark

Just to let you know I went in my Homebase local to where I work today after something else. However, I did notice they still had some seed potatoes on the shelf.

It may be there is still a chance you could get some in your area. The bags are much smaller than the ones you saw online and would be just right for a start.

[stanhol]

I have just recieved my seed potatoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know I am in Holland but the place i got them have a UK site, http://www.bakker.co.uk/

You could try them.

I am chitting mine now and we`ll see!

Sandra

[m4rky]

Thanks for the replies.

I managed to source some from Wilkinsons along with some other bits and pieces:

£1 for 3.5kg of Desiree seed potatoes
50p for onions
£1 for Blackberry root
£1 for Raspberry root

Probably not the best quality but they will do for my first stab at it.

They also had vermiculite £1 for 5kg which isn't bad...

[SmileySue]

Hi,

I found some seed potatoes in Focus - although they were well sprouted and did not look that healthy I planted them anyway to see what happened about 4 weeks ago - they are growing very well! Also, Homebase have quite a lot of them, and they are now reduced in price! I saw these yesterday.

Also try Thompson & Morgan online...I had a box delivered last week of a few different varieties.

Sue

[Primrose]

I have planted my earlies but I am lucky as I live ina village that is surrounded by field crops and have a neighbour who works on the estate and as he's planting main crop potatoes at the moment he gave me a few.
I had a bit of space which needed a bit of a "clean out" so planted them yesterday.
They are ready-sprouted and I was told to plant them deeper than normal and bank up straightaway.
It worked last year so fingers crossed.