[mctoon]

I have loads of last years spuds stored in hessian bags, im still eating them but have noticed they are going a bit soft and some of them have started to sprout shoots.  Is there any reason i cant use them as this years "seed "potatoes?
 
Cheers Mal

[mumofstig]

They will grow, it's up to you whether you think it is worth the risk of carrying over disease from one year to the next, even though they look disease free.

Most of us buy new seed each year.

[DIGGER]

I have always dumped any old spuds and re purchased,however I had a bit of space left last year and put some old and chitted ones in.
I have to say that they grew well,but not sure I would take the risk again.

[Blewit]

There is a risk of disease when saving spuds for seed but for 400 years before the advent of seed potato companies I guess it was the only option.

[mumofstig]

There is a risk of disease when saving spuds for seed but for 400 years before the advent of seed potato companies I guess it was the only option.

Is that how the Irish Potato famine came about, though, by allowing the build up of pathogens in stored potatoes?

[sunshineband]

I read a very interesting article recently on the development of new varieties of potato and the production of seed potatoes, which begin with micro propagation

After five years, the growers do not keep their own stock to use any longer but have to have planned ahead to have new tubers ready for the next season.

They grow in blight free zones in Scotland and at the slightest sign of any disease tubers are scrapped, hence what we buy is as disease-free as possible.

My point is, if you can virtually guarantee your tubers do not have any residual disease spores or viral infection, it is OK to save your own tubers ... the risk is yours to take, and the majority of home growers choose to but in "clean" tubers every year

[whitehill1]

This year I have kept few of each aside to grow again. so no seed potato order this year. I might buy from gardencenter one new to me variety though.

[snow white]

I always buy new in.  But I also always get volunteers growing from any left over that I missed as well.  They survive the winter and grow just as well as the new ones.  They also seem to be more resistant to slugs and blight and they taste just the same.    You gotta love the irony.