Potatoe question

why don't you get your seed from somewhere like Wilkinsons they are a lot cheaper than the major suppliers.
I got 10 Pentland Javelin from the Poundshop, so you really don't have to pay a lot for proper seeds.

It's not advisable to plant supermarket spuds cos you don't know if they are carrying disease, or what they have been sprayed with. As for saving seed do you really want to propagate potatoes that you have been unhappy with this year? wouldn't you be better off trying another variety which may perform better in your soil

There's lots of reasons that could point to poor yield, so I wouldn't worry about the seed spuds just yet.

How did you feed/water/weed them? Did you wait until they were ready to pick?

Thanks for all your replys, i was really after finding out where to buy cheaper seed potatoes or using shop bought ones but if i can find out why i had a poor crop then that would be great.

The seed potatoes where planted into potatoe growing sacks on 25th March, i planted one bag with Swift one with Maris Piper and one with Charlotte.

The charlotte's were "dug up" a couple of weeks ago giving the poorest yeild then last weekend we dug up the other 2 sacks, the Marispiper produced the best crop.  The swift is the only one i have not used up yet so was able to weigh them, there is 1.2kg.  I would say the swift and the Charlotte produced about the same amount and the Maris Piper a bit more.

When planted i think there were 5 seed potatoes in each bag, it all came as a kit so when i topped up with soil i fed the plants with specific potatoe feed.

The potatoe plants were watered daily and put into a sunny spot.  I dont know if they were "ready" but according to the growing packet i waited the correct amount of time.

I bought my recent seed potatoes on-line after trawling my local Garden Centres - none of them supply "Christmas spuds" so i purchased online £4 for 1kg + £4 postage.  I have purchased Charlotte's.  Im not actually after spuds for Christmas day just wanted to use up the empty space productivly.

I have put these into the ground just because it was empty but kind of figured its not worth the money - if i'd have bought them from the £1 shop then that would be fine.  I guess im looking in the wrong places and having to pay more for the privilege.

Thanks for all your help

Em

i am experimenting with mine. tried king edwards and although yield was good but insects or worms get in them and ruined most of the big ones so ended up with some small ones. this year trying Nadines and next year will try Cara.