[TheSpartacat]

Some of you may have come across the Albert Bartlett range of potatoes available in the supermarkets... featuring more unusual varieties such as Purple Majesty and Marabel.
 
I have a few of both kinds in my kitchen and am sorely tempted to plant them... and usually i would be completely against planting supermarket spuds.... but... Albert Bartlett is a top Scottish seed potato producer, supplying certified seed potatoes to some very trusted companies, and i'm imagining they are of equally excellent quality, even though they were from the supermarket.

Am i insane for considering planting them? Or does anyone know more about Albert Bartlett potatoes that can shed some light on them?

[gobs]

Ah, just posh food suppliers, I'd think. Nothing wrong in nicking a few of this and that from the shops to sow.

Don't make a habbit of it. Mum said.

[gavinjconway]

Last season some of my rooftop spuds were supermarket oddies from the fridge that had started chitting so I plonked them in pots and got some great crops..

[DD.]

I would not risk uncertified seed potatoes in my soil. Tubs are a different matter, even then you could transfer a disease if you spread the used compost on your plot.

However, it's your plot and your choice.

I was always taught that plot hygiene is paramount.

[sunshineband]

I would not risk uncertified seed potatoes into my soil. Tubs are a different matter, even then you could transfer a disease if you spread the used compost on your plot.

However, it's your plot and your choice.

I was always taught that plot hygiene is paramount.

For what it is worth, I'm firmly in DD's camp here --- I nurture my soil as I have it for life and don't want to risk any diseases whatsover.

Can't quite see how anyone would feel differently who grows their own veg, but ..... each to their own I suppose

[TheSpartacat]

So, no-one knows anything about Albert Bartlett then? Ah, where's Ian when ya need him :-D

Marabel doesn't seem to be available anywhere as seed potatoes at the moment. Given that Albert Bartlett grows certified seed potatoes, under rigorous conditions, this is why i'm considering it. It seems to be the first year they're trialling them, so i'd imagine they'd be growing them carefully with a view to produce marabel seed potatoes at some point, if they prove popular....

I found a link about the Purple Majesty that seems to answer my question... but its from last year 
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=70325.0

[Yorkie]

The point is that they don't appear to be growing them under certified seed conditions - they are growing them for the food market (if I understand your original post correctly).

That distinction is enough for me not to want to risk the hygiene not only of my own plot but also that of all the others on my site.

[realfood]

I tried some of the Purple majesty potatoes last year and found that they did not grow. I am wondering if they had been treated to prevent sprouting.

[solway cropper]

JBA supply several of the Albert Bartlett varieties. I'm trying Vivaldi this year as they've had good reviews.

As others have pointed out, there's a big difference between certified seed and ware potatoes (those grown for eating). For the price of the seed it doesn't seem worth the risk of bringing disease into your plot. If you buy fresh seed, grow your own and like them you can always save some for next year.

[cob nut]

I saw some Albert Bartlett seed potatoes in those small packs that contain about 5 or 10 potatoes at a nursery last week, I only remember seeing two varieties but there may have been others, think they were quite expensive too.

[hebridean]

I planted some Albert Bartlett rooster potatoes that I purchased in my local shop last year. I had some fantastic results from them, So good I'm planning on doing the same again this year!!

[Rampant_Weasel]

this question comes up time and again and i think the essential point is when the seeds are £3 a bag is it really worth the risk of diesase?
i do have some vivaldi chitting away atm, will report on taste in the summer!

[DD.]

It's your soil, but using shop bought potatoes as seed spuds, you do run a greater risk of introducing diseases than if you use certified seed potatoes.

[DD.]

Snap(ish) RW!

[Rampant_Weasel]

ah the old syncronised posting problem, cant beat it