Removing Sprouts from Seed Potatoes

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John

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Removing Sprouts from Seed Potatoes
« on: January 18, 2020, 09:49 »
The practice of removing all but two or three sprouts from a seed potato to produce larger tubers is well documented. The question is, does it work?

Removing Sprouts from Seed Potatoes
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rowlandwells

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Re: Removing Sprouts from Seed Potatoes
« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2020, 17:33 »
 I don't think I've  got the time or the patience to start removing shoots from 25K  of seed potatoes I've found what's underneath the tubers when planted gets us a good size potato all be it with slug holes from our last years crop this  year 2020 war on slugs  :mad:

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Growster...

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Re: Removing Sprouts from Seed Potatoes
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2020, 06:49 »
I seem to recall someone down on the allotments telling me that there was (yet) another old boy who stripped the tuber back to just one shoot, and when the single greenery appeared, he used to tie it up like a tomato, presumably to feed it etc.!

The crop was apparently fabulous, but then it was some time ago, so I can't corroborate the outcome...

The main trouble with enormous spuds though, is that they sometimes grow hollow, and that ain't a good thing!

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John

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Re: Removing Sprouts from Seed Potatoes
« Reply #3 on: February 05, 2020, 10:02 »
The main trouble with enormous spuds though, is that they sometimes grow hollow, and that ain't a good thing!
Yep, I've had hollow heart a few times with Sarpo Mira - lovely huge spud but a nasty brown void in the centre.

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lettice

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Re: Removing Sprouts from Seed Potatoes
« Reply #4 on: February 05, 2020, 10:33 »

The main trouble with enormous spuds though, is that they sometimes grow hollow, and that ain't a good thing!

Been growing Sarpo Mira for a decade and they produce wonderful large potatoes that I use mainly for chips that I freeze through the year in batches part cooked.
Must admit they store very well in my potato shed and are still doing well mid summer after the late autumn picking.
They do bulge out my bags in the growing season and being so large do give a and are great croppers producing wonderfully.
As I mentioned in my thread a few years bag, with my bag only experiment,
https://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=124530.0
the bags give me 23-25lb of potatoes per bag for Sarpo. Last year all of my bags were just that, but one was just under 27lb, a record for me for that breed :)
Never had a hollow one ever. In fact do not really get any problems at all with them. Or in fact any problems with any of my potato varieties.

Have all my first/second and maincrop chitting nicely now.
Would say be careful knocking off chits, you could probably do more damage by doing that than just leaving them.
Would say if your potatoes comes with loads of white chits in the first place, they have been stored badly at your garden centre and probably not a good choice.
Mine I have been buying for many years (Taylors and many years back some from Unwins) from my local Garden centre are looked after well. Probably more important to consider where you purchase them.

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rowlandwells

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Re: Removing Sprouts from Seed Potatoes
« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2020, 17:47 »
have you though about growing a variety called Record Lettuce as we grow them for both chips and roasting and oven wedges the only thing is with this variety  its a bit on the yellow side

 cooked with a bit of goose fat in the oven makes a lovely roast potato to go with your Sunday lunch  :D :D :D

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John

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Re: Removing Sprouts from Seed Potatoes
« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2020, 18:15 »
Sounds interesting Rowland

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lettice

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Re: Removing Sprouts from Seed Potatoes
« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2020, 11:41 »
have you though about growing a variety called Record Lettuce as we grow them for both chips and roasting and oven wedges the only thing is with this variety  its a bit on the yellow side

 cooked with a bit of goose fat in the oven makes a lovely roast potato to go with your Sunday lunch  :D :D :D

One I have not grown Myself.
Will add to my list to try for another year. Just been reading up in my gardening books about it.
The Crisp industry in the 50s - 70s used to use it along with Golden Wonder, but it has gone out of favour commercially now.
But does seem to get good reviews.

I always save my fat from when I roast a whole Duck. Keeps in the fridge for some while but also freeze it in ice cube size batches too.
I do save my roast beef fat too, but keep that as dripping to have on bread :)

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John

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Re: Removing Sprouts from Seed Potatoes
« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2020, 12:09 »
I do save my roast beef fat too, but keep that as dripping to have on bread :)
I didn't think southerners were allowed to have bread and dripping!!! :)

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Growster...

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Re: Removing Sprouts from Seed Potatoes
« Reply #9 on: February 07, 2020, 06:22 »
It's called 'scrape', John...!

Have you had any 'tea slops' then?

:0)

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John

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Re: Removing Sprouts from Seed Potatoes
« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2020, 08:42 »
It's called 'scrape', John...!

Have you had any 'tea slops' then?

:0)
Errr, no thanks :)


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