Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Eblana on January 07, 2013, 09:52

Title: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: Eblana on January 07, 2013, 09:52
Hi All,

Just about to order my seed potatos but struggling to figure out how much I need.  ::)

The company that I am buying from are selling them in 2.25kg lots but I have no idea how many potatos are in the 2.25kg.

I have worked out that I will have 30 rows that will be about 8 foot long so if I am planting them approx a ft apart I will need about 250 seed potatoes (all main crop).  I know it will depend on the size of the seed potatoes but would anyone have any idea of roughly how many seed spuds would be in 2.25kgs.
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: homegrown on January 07, 2013, 10:05
8x30 !! I make that 240 .
Dunno how many wud be in one of those bags maybe 20 or more u will need to ask
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: mumofstig on January 07, 2013, 10:06
Garden organics brochure says 1.5kg gives 17 - 22 tubers (so 28 - 36 for 2.5k)
It depends on how big the potatoes grew last year how many you actually get.
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: JayG on January 07, 2013, 10:11
For me a 2.5kg bag has usually contained between 25 and 35 seed potatoes depending on variety, but given your relatively large order I'd check with the supplier first to avoid wasting your cash (especially as yours are selling them in 2.25kg bags..........hmmm!!!!)  ::)
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: mumofstig on January 07, 2013, 10:26
Mmm  :blush: it does help if your read the bag weights right doesn't it  ::)  :D
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: DD. on January 07, 2013, 10:38
It's just my opinion, but you state that they're all maincrop. I think 1' apart is a little too close. That's my spacing for earlies.

My maincrop are spaced at 18" intervals.
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: Eblana on January 07, 2013, 10:43
Just rang the supplier - they are definitely doing 2.25Kg but she has told me that they have a small quantity of 5kg bags of two of the varieties I want (Saparo as blight treatments being phased out).  

She wasn't able to tell me how many were in the bags but based on the numbers above I will work off approx 60 in the 5 kg bags and 25 for the 2.25 kg bags - if I have a few too many I can always share and if too few I can always pick up a small bag in the local Garden Centre.

Thanks for the help with this - will get my order off this afternoon to be sure that I get in there on time as they are warning of shortages.

Thanks DD - will recalculate based on 18" apart.  I had put maincrop 18" apart this year but because of the poor weather conditions there appeared to be a lot of space between the plants at harvest time but I suppose in what I hope will be a 'normal' growing season this year they will probably need the extra space.
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: DD. on January 07, 2013, 10:53
Given a proper growing season, they do need that extra space!
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: richy on January 08, 2013, 14:47
On my spacings for main crop i make it 200.
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: richy on January 08, 2013, 14:50
sorry misread the question, i wouldnt have a clue how many are in a bag that size.
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: mumofstig on January 31, 2013, 13:40
The seed potatoes I've received from Fothergill's are on the small side this year.

1.5kg packs of Charlotte, Desiree and Lady Christl contain between 24 and 28 potatoes.
The only ones which were bigger were the 10 free Blue Belles :)
I haven't the faintest idea where they'll all go, as I haven't really got room for that many  :nowink: Ho hum!
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: DD. on January 31, 2013, 13:57
My 31 LC's weighed 800g!
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: JayG on January 31, 2013, 14:24
Crikey! I thought some of my LC's were a bit on a small side this year because I got 39 in the bag, but it was a 2.5kg bag!  :ohmy:
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: DD. on January 31, 2013, 14:29
They'll be fine. At least I got some and it only cost me £1.20 for them!
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: Rampant_Weasel on January 31, 2013, 14:48
there is a calculator on jba website to make it easy - scroll down to potato calculator
Title: Re: How much seed potatoes do I need to get
Post by: Eblana on January 31, 2013, 14:50
Thanks folks they arrived the other day and there are on average 40 per pack - may have a few too many but I am sure I will either find a home for them on my plot or they will find a home on someone elses plot - always a couple of takers for freebees!!!!