seed potatoes Jersey Royal sowing

We purchased some Jersey Royal potatoes mail order for last Christmas delivery 2011.

I have saved around a dozen of the larger potatoes and wish to use them as seed.

I have got in mind when they have sprouted sewing them in pots and placing them in a cold frame.

What do you think? any advice accepted, never done potatoes in pots before or early planting.

 

Hi DG,

You run the risk of importing disease by not growing from certified seed potatoes. Groves nurseries in Bridport sell the seed spuds under the name of International Kidney (Jersey Royal is origin protected)

I grew 3 plants in bags last year, seed was only 17p.

They are usually disapointing in taste compared to Jersey Royals which are grown in soil enriched by years of composted seaweed.

Main thing is to keep the frost off the tips, if they get frosted they will resprout from the tuber again, which takes a lot of energy out of the plant.

 

Thanks for helpful reply, I dont think the potatoes were actually Island grown, opinion is that its jersey seed grown in Brittany etc. The flavour was not like a May/June supply, and not very clean.

Assuming the growers were using certified seed why should I be importing diseased potatoes?

I will give them a whizz and report later, (I could always pop down the beach and gets some seaweed for the pots ).

 

No worries, check the bag to see if it has PDO on it

About Jersey Royals | Jersey Royal Potatoes

Spuds get a whole range of diseases, worst being the blight, which is why we rotate the crop & use seed potatoes. Blight spores can overwinter in haulms and tubers, the spuds you bought may have been sprayed to protect them while they were growing, but you've no way of knowing if they are carrying or not.

You could be introducing something you really don't want.

I've got blight on my plot & have to spray every year. Having been previously organic that goes against the grain.

If you've not had the blight where you are, i'd recomend spending a few pence on the seed spuds.

The seaweed will need washing to remove the salts & then composting but worth doing ready for next years

 

The wife says we will eat them so not using them as seed.

Thanks again.

 

You know she's right:D

don't let it stop you getting some seed ones, are you far from Otter Nurseries? i'm sure they would do them, might even have composted seaweed there.

 

Oddly enough I had just spoken to them on the telephone asking if they had got their T & M seeds in, next week they said, and I put some Apple cucumbers on order.

 

nice one, big internet, but small world.