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Growing Potatoes, why bother buying SEED potatoes ?

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  • I use the pointy end of a peeler just to ease out the eyes where needed tho have been known to just use a finger nail ( clean of course ) at times.  Still alive and kicking so either works for me :D   
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    edited February 2022
    I have always bought certified virus free seed potatoes as I thought that it was the right thing to do even knowing that the bags sometimes contained rotten ones, last year I ordered three bags from Wilco's but they only sent two so I used a few from the previous years harvest, they all grew just the same, I then saw a you tube video from a nursery owner suggesting that he always grows potatoes using tubers from the last years crop so that is what I shall be doing from now on, unless of course I want a different variety.
  • Jenny_AsterJenny_Aster Posts: 945
    edited February 2022
    I always thought seed potatoes came from Scotland because it was too cold for potato blight to thrive. Think we were terrified of having the Irish potato famine.

    https://www.sasa.gov.uk/seed-ware-potatoes#:~:text=Most Scottish seed potatoes are,which spread some potato diseases.
    Trying to be the person my dog thinks I am! 

    Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
  • BraidmanBraidman Posts: 274

    Seed potatoes | Department of Agriculture, Environment and ...

    https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk › articles › seed-potatoes
    Northern Ireland is recognized as a high-grade seed potato area within the EU. The climate and topography makes it an ideal place to grow healthy seed potatoes ...

    I was under the impression that seed potatoes were grown above an elevation of 500 feet, as aphids were not to be found at that level, so do not spread any viruses!

    Holland is a big producer of seed potatoes, they are more likely to be 500 feet below see level, so how does that work?

  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    I always thought seed potatoes came from Scotland because it was too cold for potato blight to thrive. Think we were terrified of having the Irish potato famine.

    https://www.sasa.gov.uk/seed-ware-potatoes#:~:text=Most Scottish seed potatoes are,which spread some potato diseases.
    The potato famine happened in Scotland too.
    Sunny Dundee
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited February 2022
    To clarify …. the potato famine was due to blight. 
    Potato blight is an airborne fungal condition, not a virus primarily spread by aphids which is what is being discussed here. 
    😊 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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