[Zippy]

I know it is early days yet, but I am thinking ahead to a Christmas Potatoes project.  My plan is to keep the poly greenhouse up in my back garden. I have two huge plantpots – one fits inside the other with about an inch all round. 

I plan to fit one inside the other and pack the space between with bubble wrap, leaving drainage routes at the bottom (but insulating the bottom as well). Then placing the whole thing inside the poly greenhouse as the weather closes in.

I gather people also put a clear poly “tent” with ventilation holes over the plant for more insulation.

I will be using peat free compost and feeding with Comfrey extract in the watering.  Do people keep the pots a bit on the dry side to prevent rotting and moulds?

Also, I wouldn’t want more than 2 or 3 seed potatoes. Can I buy in such small quantities anywhere?  I know a few fellow allotmenteers have used their own produce as seed potatoes or just bunged one in from a supermarket, but I have reservations about this approach.

[mumofstig]

I think a fleece tent would be a better bet to stop too much condensation forming.
For small quantities of seeds, I wonder if Wilko will sell them this year as it seems to be popular idea?
Personally I think you would be ok with saved or s/mkt spuds for seeds cos it's all in a pot, if you develop disease you can throw the lot away without infecting the veg plot.

[Zippy]

Thanks mumofstig - good points. 

[aelf]

Tried this last year without much succes, but trying again this year  I plan to save a couple of Charlottes from my first harvest. They will be wrapped in paper towel and stored in the fridge til August. Then I'll put them on a window sill to chit for a couple of weeks before planting them outside in tubs. Will bring them into the greenhouse as the nights draw in in much the same way as suggested above. Worth a go 

[Zippy]

The fridge - of course. thanks aelf. I think, if I cannot find a cheap source of Christmas potato seeds I will try a couple from my own harvest; maybe one from supermarket, but prefer my own to be honest.

[goodegg]

i wouldnt use super market spuds you are very likely to got disease and waste your time. you
really need earlies save some from your early crop let then go a bit green to set then put them away

[chopkins1313]

goodegg - how do you 'let them go a bit green'? does this involve leaving them out in the light after harvesting? then pop in fridge for a quick fake winter?

[Zippy]

Hi Goodegg, thanks, could you also add why you let them go a bit green? What reason? Cheers.

[white westie]

aelf
Thanx for the tip what a brilliant idea i shall save some of my charollettes too.

[Yorkie]

I've not heard the bit about going green before, but last year Iain said that there needed to be 60 days between harvest and replanting if using a spud grown earlier this year as a seed spud.