[New shoot]

Personally (and bear in mind I work in a garden centre), I wouldn't risk buying seed potatoes in March unless I knew the retailer did have good storage conditions i.e. specialist supplier or really top notch nursery.

Shops, be they DIY sheds or garden centres, are over heated all day so the customers don't complain they are cold, then left unheated or maximum frost free heat setting all night.  Your only other option is goods in or stores - generally freezing day and night with doors left open most of the day as deliveries come in.  There are top up drops of spuds during the season but supplies run out fast, so by March you will have had the stock a while and tried to keep it best you can in less than ideal conditions.

Just my own views If you have somewhere local you can trust for seed potatoes in March, ignore everything I've just said  

[DD.]

I'm another one that buys early. If I left it until March, as stated previous, the ones I want would have gone.

[AlaninCarlisle]

For the past four years I've bought my seed spuds loose in March from a local place called Aero Nurseries just north of Carlisle. They have a huge selection, are far cheaper than anywhere else and the spuds are kept in perfect cool dark conditions. I was in there today just mooching and they looked at me askance shaking their heads in disbelief when I told them about the panic to buy in B and Q

[shoozie]

We ordered seed pots from JBA, and got all varieties we wanted - bar one.  Note in diary to order earlier next year.  Supposed to be February dispatch - hopefully not before mid February. 

[mumofstig]

For the past four years I've bought my seed spuds loose in March from a local place called Aero Nurseries just north of Carlisle. They have a huge selection, are far cheaper than anywhere else and the spuds are kept in perfect cool dark conditions. I was in there today just mooching and they looked at me askance shaking their heads in disbelief when I told them about the panic to buy in B and Q

Lucky you, is all I can say 

[DD.]

Now that everyone knows about them, they may be out of stock in March!

[AlaninCarlisle]

Now that everyone knows about them, they may be out of stock in March!

And I might get my commission

[Herb]

My seed potatoes arrived from JBA last week.

Not sure if to start them chitting now, or wait until I'm back from holiday on the 20th of Feb?


Also, when are you lot starting leeks? I've seen a couple mention they've got their's on the go already.

[Yorkie]

Chitting is just putting them in the right place to enable strong sturdy shoots as opposed to long thin weak shoots.

I'd start them off now - upright in an egg box or something else to keep them still - cool and light conditions.

[sunshineband]

Trouble is of you leave them in the dark, chances are they will start to sprout those horrible long pale shoots..... and you'll have to rub them out and start again 

[AnneB]

Expecting my JBA potatoes to arrive this week.   Hope they do before we go away on 2 weeks hols.  Waiting til I get back to sow anything else or it will get too leggy whilst I am away.

[RobertSongs]

Put some Bhut Jolokia chilli seeds in some wet kitchen towel in a zip lock bag in the airing cupboard yesterday...So yes i have now going to the polytunnel today to get some leeks sown too....It Has Begun!!

[Son of Steptoe]

I've sown leeks in modules, broad beans, peas, lettuce and spring onions in a cold greenhouse but have tomatoes, chillies, aubergines and peppers in a windowsill propagator in the kitchen.

[Aunt Sally]

Expecting my JBA potatoes to arrive this week.   Hope they do before we go away on 2 weeks hols.  Waiting til I get back to sow anything else or it will get too leggy whilst I am away.

I make space in the bottom of my fridge for them unil I want to chit them.

[cuddlykoala]

I am currently growing Petunias, Broad Beans, Dwarf Beans, Marrigolds and two varieties of Tomato.  I will be keeping some indoors for a few weeks and the rest will go into the polytunnels next month which are frost free.