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Growing tatties?

ThebigeasyThebigeasy Posts: 190
in Fruit & veg
Would like to try growing tatties in a bag to see if I can get one of my wee ones interested in gardening, is it too late to grow them? Do you just use tatties from the shop? Cheers. 
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  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    You need first earlies, do not use potatoes from the shop, use special seed potatoes.

  • ThebigeasyThebigeasy Posts: 190
    What are first earlies? Any recommendations on types to buy? 
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    It's not too late and sometimes GC's and DIY shops sell off seed spuds at this time if they have stock left over. That is dependent on you being able to get to one of course.
    AB Still learning

  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    I've planted spuds from the greengrocer, they grow all right for me.  
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    You'll be fine with ones from the shop, If you are going to do it in a bag get some salad potatoes of a type you like, and use them. I'm suggesting salad potatoes as they are generally quicker to mature than baking or mash potatoes and are smaller so you have a better chance of success in the limited space a bag allows.
    The reason to not use shop potatoes is that they have not been checked for diseases, but using a bag you're not contaminating any soil anyway even if they do have anything (which is fairly unlikely) Since these are not perfect times use whatever potatoes you can get hold of.
  • Excitable BoyExcitable Boy Posts: 165
    Given that the object is to get your little ones interested I would suggest that you just use whatever potatoes you are eating. No point buying seed as you only need one of two and you want impressive results - large potatoes, or if using salad potatoes lots of them. Don't worry too much about horticultural excellence, just read up about growing potatoes in a bag and do it!
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    Kestrel is a nice early variety if you want one to try?
  • ThebigeasyThebigeasy Posts: 190
    My youngest lives on potatoes, so would the baby potatoes from the shop do as she would devour them in no time. Do you need to wait for them to sprout? Any way to make them sprout quicker? 
  • GemmaJFGemmaJF Posts: 2,286
    Thebigeasy said:
    My youngest lives on potatoes, so would the baby potatoes from the shop do as she would devour them in no time. Do you need to wait for them to sprout? Any way to make them sprout quicker? 
    No you don't have to wait. Letting them sprout (chitting in gardener's language) is done early season to get a jump start on growing. Now it won't make a lot of difference.
  • ThebigeasyThebigeasy Posts: 190
    Some of our potatoes have flowered, when do you pick them?
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