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Seed potatoes?

barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
in Fruit & veg
Has anyone noticed a problem purchasing seed potatoes this year? The allotment association shop say that there's a shortage and can't say when or which varieties they will be selling this year, usually they are available from the end of January giving time to let them chit but this year we still haven't received them from the supplier. I usually get them into the ground by mid March I may have to shop elsewhere if they don't turn up soon, or failing that sow potatoes brought from the supermarket vegetable aisle.
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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I got some from Wilko a few weeks ago and I've seen them in other shops too (might have been B&Q or The Range). Not the biggest I've ever seen but that's not surprising - another consequence of a dry summer.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Plenty available here too but not all the varieties.  No Pink Fir Apple of Grenache this year and didn't want to grow Charlottes again so trying Princesse Amandine.

    Try several suppliers as, like Jenny says, last year's drought is affecting quantities and quality of both seed potatoes and onion sets.   I've seen plenty here but BioFreak, who is further north, was having trouble.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    Yes I saw that wilko's had them in and only 50p more than the allotment association.
  • Zoomer44Zoomer44 Posts: 3,267
    Don't seem to have had a problem here getting seed potatoes although Wilko's sold out within days, I went one Saturday and they weren't on sale then called in again mid week and they had nearly sold out.        
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    I got mine at a local potato day a couple of weeks ago. There were one or two varieties missing but still plenty of choice
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    Allotment association have now cancelled seed order because supplier can't guarantee what they can supply or even prices, we haven't had any problems with supply for the last 5 years at least. Hunting around for seed potatoes at a sensible price now.
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    Obelixx said:
    Plenty available here too but not all the varieties.  No Pink Fir Apple of Grenache this year and didn't want to grow Charlottes again so trying Princesse Amandine.

    Try several suppliers as, like Jenny says, last year's drought is affecting quantities and quality of both seed potatoes and onion sets.   I've seen plenty here but BioFreak, who is further north, was having Trouble.




    The Organic Gardening Catalogue is still offering (non-organic) pink fir apple at£5.49 per kilo.  My kilo had 24 tubers, many of which have multiple eyes so can be cut up to yield more plants.
  • Ante1Ante1 Posts: 3,085
    We have plenty seed potatoes available here but prices are much higher than a last year. I bought a second cropping potatoes but was unable to find early potatoes. They told me that it will come in the shops in the next ten days. 
    Croatia
  • cornellycornelly Posts: 970
    Locally here in South Wales plenty of varieties, still had the ones I grow Wilja and King Edward the other day when I went to top up.
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    Ordered seed potatoes from Wilcos online free delivery to store, they actually worked out cheaper than the one's ordered from the allotment association which I believe are VAT exempt.
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