Sprouting Potatoes

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Sprouting Potatoes

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DavidW

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 31
Location: South Wales

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 05 6:19 pm Post subject: Sprouting Potatoes
Iï¿½ve just purchased my seed potatoes from Wilkinsonï¿½s (Desiree and Pentlan Javelin), Where is the best place to keep these potatoes for them to sprout. 1. In a cold dark shed 2. In a light warm house Thanks David

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 05 6:24 pm Post subject:
Neither, have you got nowhere that's light and cool?

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 05 6:26 pm Post subject:
I keep mine in a paper bag, in the bottom of the larder. It's cool in there, and it's light when the door is opened. They seem to do OK. For the past couple of years I've sprouted seed saved from the previous years crop that way (they were bright purple spuds that I bought, and which sprouted).

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 05 6:27 pm Post subject:
They don't need loads of light, or for it to be that cold, but a little of both will be very handy.

Erikht
Guest

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 05 8:04 pm Post subject:
For most people, the trick is to get them not to sprout.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 05 8:47 pm Post subject:
Seed potatoes do need to sprout but the secret it to buy them before the shops keep them too warm and make the sprouts too long but not too soon otherwise you end up with trays of sprouting tubers covering your window sill in the unheated spare bedroom.

Tristan

Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 05 9:09 pm Post subject:

As long as the shed is frost-free then keep them in there until mid February then put them, eye end upwards, into egg trays, in a light, warm spot in the house for about four weeks, or the shoots are 1 inch long and purple (hopefully), then plant out under fleece.
Having said that, mine have done fine in the house, in a dark cupboard (av 25 deg C!), from Xmas to mid March, for the last three years cos our shed freezes mercury with an east wind.

Deedee

Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Posts: 250
Location: Surrey

Posted: Mon Jan 17, 05 9:51 pm Post subject:
I normally stand mine in the recyclable type egg boxes (you know the cardboard ones) and stick them on whatever surface is free in the house not ideal but they always seem to do well..I must have a declutter someday...

Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Tue Jan 18, 05 9:56 am Post subject:
Not too dark as the shoots tend to be pale thin and weak. Light and cool is best. Last year I used the spare room with the radiator off. Most f my fellow plot holders seem to use their greenhouses and sheds.

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