[The Golden Heap]

I have nearly 160 various earlies seconds and mains chatting on a table by a window in an unheard room, reasonably bright.  Question is I bought by weight and there is mainly little seeds.  Is this normal bearing in mind a bad year last year

[JayG]

You're not the first to make that observation on here this year - the ideal size for seed spuds is usually said to be hens egg size, but it doesn't really matter if they are smaller or larger than that (small ones will shrivel quicker but should still be OK to plant if they have healthy-looking chits on.)

[mumofstig]

yup! the same problem for me 
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=101281.msg1138079#msg1138079

[Ema]

At my local potato day I hand picked all the big seed spuds most of mine are duck egg size. I did notice at the garden centre they were pretty small ping pong ball size

[Yana]

Bought my seed potatoes from the lottie shop today and they varied in size from too big to fit into the egg carton to wobbling about cos too small. However, have to say they are in good condition and happy with what ive got as sizes were OK i think. Price seemed good too as I dont grow that many and wanted small amounts of some to experiment with.

[Thephoenix572]

Got some first earlies and maincrop so far from home bargains. Going to get the rest from the garden centre

[Chrysalis]

Mine arrived today.    All fairly hen's egg sized.

Belana, Lady Christl, Sarpo mira and King Eddies.....here's hoping for better things this year...

I got mine from T and M, in a fit of weakness - last time they were awful - but this time they look OK.

[strangerachael]

I have nearly 160 various earlies seconds and mains chatting on a table by a window in an unheard room, reasonably bright. 

How do you know they are chatting if they're in an unheard room??   

[arugula]

I love predictive text..... 

[upthetump]

re chitting, i have around 30 maris piper seed pots from last year still on a windowsill. they have really thick sprouts. will they be any good to plant this year?

[JayG]

re chitting, i have around 30 maris piper seed pots from last year still on a windowsill. they have really thick sprouts. will they be any good to plant this year?

Gosh! I thought I was pushing it chucking away unwanted chitted seed spuds after about 7 months - I'd suggest checking to see if there is a Guinness Book of Records category for chitted potatoes! 

If the chits look like they're supposed to (not too long, and purple/green) then they are clearly still alive so should grow if planted.

[upthetump]

the chits are about the thickness of my little finger and about 20mm long with a purplish green hue. my OH has been nagging me to throw them out (their first birthday in the bedroom window was last week)  .

[madcat]

Impressive!  That goes for the spuds and the tolerance of OH!     plant carefully so as not to break the chits and sounds like they will be fine.  Do tell, won't you, how it goes?

[Salmo]

Those year old chitted potatoes have probably gone through one life cycle and my guess is that they will do something strange like produce lots of marble sized tubers - or none. Throw them out  NOW!!!!!!!!

Farmers plant potatoes by weight. If the average seed is small they plant them closer in the row.

[madcat]

At this point I am reminded of the old story about gardeners - ask 5 gardeners their opinion about something and you will get 6 different answers.  Probably applies to farmers too!