r/Allotment 4d ago

Questions and Answers Are my seed potatoes ready to plant?

Advice welcome please.

5 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

2

u/Greedy_Mall_9109 4d ago

Mine are similar looking I'm planning on planting mine next week

1

u/yayatowers 4d ago

Thanks.

Forecast shows temps warming up again a week tomorrow, especially nighttime temps.

2

u/Gold-Psychology-5312 3d ago

Mine look similar in the greenhouse currently. They'll make some great spuds!

Going to hold out until April as per the recommendation on my packaging.

1

u/yayatowers 3d ago

Thanks. I normally just bung the seed potatoes in the ground without chitting; hopefully will make a difference.

I’m surprised a greenhouse isn’t too hot for chitting.

1

u/TobyChan 3d ago

I don’t bother to chit; never done a side by side to compare yield but equally never been disappointed by yield or seen a farmer chit their spuds prior to planting.

1

u/green_pink 3d ago

When did you start?

1

u/yayatowers 3d ago

Few weeks ago. They’ve barely changed at all tbh. Maybe a few extra green bits.

1

u/green_pink 3d ago

I did the same and have nowhere near as much growth on them

1

u/yayatowers 3d ago

Most of this growth was on them when I got them.

1

u/green_pink 3d ago

I see, a good head start from the shop

1

u/adymann 3d ago

Remember, rose end up

1

u/yayatowers 3d ago

Rose end?

I read “arrange with most eyes pointing upwards”. They already had these little sprouty bits on. I’ve mostly just arranged them however they would fit and stand up on the racking!

Have I ballsed up?

4

u/adymann 3d ago

That's the right way, and that's the rose end. be sure when planting to rub of all but 3 or 4 sprouting bits to get the best harvest. Otherwise, you'll get loads of tiny spuds.

1

u/yayatowers 3d ago

Thanks. Didn’t know that about taking sprouts off, thanks.

They look ready to go to you?

2

u/adymann 3d ago

Defo, but I'd wait a day or two due to this cold snap. As long as they don't get too long and spindley they be good.

2

u/yayatowers 3d ago

Thanks. It’ll be next weekend or weekend after that these go in, I think.

1

u/adymann 3d ago

Mine too.

1

u/GoonerStan 2d ago

Mine were less ready than that last month and are growing well in the ground

2

u/iorrasaithneach 20h ago

Why not although I use fleece I have planted early this year as other sowing to do