[Zammoimp]

Hi i am all ready on my allotment well readyish!!But i was wondering all potatoes are seed potatoes arn't they?  Could you chit ones out of a normal bag?  What makes them speacial to use is it thier pest resistance properties or something?

many thanks in advance

[mumofstig]

Yes seed potatoes are certified as virus free by suppliers.
So you take the chance of introducing something nasty to your plot if you plant supermarket spuds.

[Zammoimp]

I see has anyone done this with good or bad affects on thier plot.

Also another question i had and may make a new topic for it but here goes:

How far does 1 kg go for planting them?  I do understand thier are differnt sizes and also the mor the main crop typr you need more space for the plant but as a general rule what would you say?

Thank you Nath

[Bigbadfrankie]

I have used supper market spuds it was OK but you do not Know what they are, earlys ect and if you buy branded (maris peers) ect they are no cheaper than seeed spuds

[mumofstig]

Think the thing is if you buy from somewhere like Wilko you don't pay a lot for the proper ones.
On the lottie the old boys save some of this year's crop to plant next year. But then they will buy new certified seed the year after.
(So they only ever save for one year before replacing  and then only if its been a disease free year)

[Yorkie]

I see has anyone done this with good or bad affects on thier plot.

I haven't done it as the risks of potentially introducing something unknown to either your plot or the wider environment are not worth it.  How do you get rid of a virus which is spreading because it came in on an infected and imported supermarket spud?  That is why there are such stringent rules about seed potatoes only allowed to be certified virus free before they can be sold here.

It might seem a fun and cheap experiment but that's only if it works without any problems.

[celjaci]

I agree it's important to buy virus free seed potatoes but all could be sabotaged by the neighbour!

Seed potatoes are not that expensive. One local nursery sells about 40 varieties, all the same price by weight so you can pick out the exact number you want and try as many varieties as you want - what fun for a few quid!