True Potato Seed

Thanks azubah, I'll sow them along with the toms then.

How did yours taste?

No different to the others. Sorry to disappoint. The fun is in growing your own unique variety.

Yeah, I like to muck about with something new, keeps life interesting  and so long as they were no worse than the others then thats a bonus.

I'll probably do about 10 plants and pick the best to save the tubers for next year, see how that goes.

This has proved a really fun hobby for me!

(The other Hairy Pumpkin is a spectator on this one, It is still experimental in its stages you see)

I completed the first stage last year from a sowing of TPS saved from Desiree potato plant fruits.
Two very vigorous plants unaffected by blight were displaying promise of tubers, sizes consisting of small conker to small egg size.
After surviving winter in my cold but frost free fridge, they we put to chit a fortnight ago, I intend on growing these in two water butt bases that were jigsawed to 40cm high and see how they crop.
I'm upping my game this year though!
Chaposa, Chieftain and Hedge Rose are some other TPS Ive imported/purchased from TPS pioneer Tom Wagner and will be sowing these very soon into plug trays in a small polytunnel.

For me its the excitement of not knowing what you are going to get, the surprise element upon finding say the next "desiree" that you alone created the enviroment to appear, I like the supermarket potatoes and love buying from the local potato fares my fav heritage varieties too.
I will continue to grow these "tried and tested" spuds, however I like the bigger choice you get by sowing TPS, the same technique that allowed the tried and tested ones to be discovered.
I love the idea of having your own potato, that you grew from seed, that over time has been adapted to your local environment and soil conditions that inevitably you chose from out of hundreds, potentially thousands of seedlings. Buying "tubers" takes some of that fun away for me, I feel I am always relying on someone else for my sustainance.

Something else I managed to do (and is a great way to multiply your genetic base) is to hold back a couple of your favourite expensive saved tubers (mine last year were Edgecote purple & Witchill for blight resistance and flavour respectfully) to grow very large shoots, spray these tubers that by this time will look slightly shriveled for passing there food resources to the shoots, with water spray, when they show enough root hairs gently "snap" them off in one go (carefully) and immediately plant them up into pots(5L is ideal) leaving just the very top leaves poking out above the surface.
These shoots will soon be plants and if you look after them they should bear enough tubers to give you reasonable stock for over wintering towards next seasons effort, without need of a re-purchase.
It worked for me anyway, plus they are genetic clones of the original "certified" tubers you originally purchased.

Have fun while growing your favourite veggies!
x

Are you doing all this experimentation on your allotment or at home, HP?

Hi Yorkie, a bit of both probably.
The greenhouse at home will be full by late spring so that leaves some cold frames or the Poly tunnel on the allotment, cant wait! :happy:

Quote from: Yorkie on February 25, 2013, 19:12

Are you doing all this experimentation on your allotment or at home, HP?

Hi Yorkie, a bit of both probably.
The greenhouse at home will be full by late spring so that leaves some cold frames or the Poly tunnel on the allotment, cant wait! :happy:

How will you identify the tubers which might have developed either virus infection or genetic damage during a season?

And thus protect your fellow allotmenteers from risk?

Seem's to me you have taken enough step's to prevent x infection to other plot holder's so you get my vote Hairy. Keep up the good work and let us know the result's.

I think they use true seed in the steep hills of south america .. they take the small and light in weight seed up the hills to plant and its easy to bring the heavy harvest down the hill. Great idea.