Seed potato

Aldi now selling 1st early, 2nd early and M/crop at £1-40 a small bag.

I bought some seed potatoes from Home Bargains (I think) a week or two back. Currently in a dark drawer in my shed, waiting to go in bags. I got Charlottes for earlies and can't remember the maincrop variety I got.   

Chit mine in old egg boxes. I know you do not have to: I am just old fashioned.

Whatever works is good

My grandfather had a greenhouse and planted direct into the soil inside. Meant digging out more or less every year, when he could have groen in growbags or pots, which would have been easier.

I never heard of anyone growing potatoes in a greenhouse before, many are growing in bags and sacks these days, saves so much space although the yields may not always be as good as when grown in the ground.

Ragbru - I always chit my potatoes in egg boxes - just like my Grandad showed me.  

I bought a 56lb bag of spuds to eat, I keep them in the garage and some are sprouting, so i'm gonna bag some of those and see what I get   

Tip I originally got from John and Sally Seymour's book- 'Self Sufficient Gardening'

When you harvest spuds, immediately re plant a few in buckets (or similar) in greenhouse. harvest these Christmas Morning for Christmas Dinner.

Years ago, when I had the space used to grow spud varieties: Ratte and 'Concorde' (not found seed on offer this year)

RHS Aof M Table- good brief description of varieties

TOM - you are braver than I am, I only ever buy certified seed, although I know many that do as you do.

I did the same last year VG and got good results, the potatoes that were sprouting I cut up into quarters of the potatoe and just buried in the ground,some in tubs and they were beltin'   

I put in 8 tubers for 'Charlotte' and 2 x 4 of 'King Edward' Hopefully be getting some salad potatoes in a few months They're in bags.

Gonna get mine some time this week, not decided on which ones. I wasn't exactly over-awed by the Pink Fir Apples last year, in fact they all weren't great but that was a combination of Thor eating the tubers and watering issues.  

I've not had decent crops in the last few years, but put it down to the same as you, watering issues.

I'm going to be more vigilant with them this year though.

It would be interesting to know how much water they actually need, I know if ground is saturated or flooded they turn to mush, and often you see potatoes being unearthed on farms and the soil can look almost parched. If growing in bags it is easy to stick your hand in and have a feel - I know they can dry out within the space of a very hot day.

I was using a watering can per day last year, so about 6 litres per bag. I'll probably water twice a day this year, if it's particularly warm and dry. Going to spend a few hours in the garden today I think, on a general tidy up, planting seeds and so on.

My brother has given me some of his King Edward seed potatoes and thats as far as I have got this year, need to start sowing some seeds too I'm way behind.