Seed potato quantities

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Seed potato quantities

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kevin.vinke

Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 1304
Location: Niedersachsen, Germany

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 08 7:11 pm Post subject: Seed potato quantities
Hi all, getting the seed potato order together (never done this before). Iï¿½m using John Jeavons cropping plan and it say I need 546 bits. The question is how does this equate to quantities in Kg (which is how they are sold). Thanks for any help and advice in advance, kevin

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 08 7:33 pm Post subject:

I was looking for this the other day too (not that we'll be planting any this year, no room

except for a few pots of Salad Blue and Shetland Black I rescued from Waitrose

). Some of the seed catalogues do specify a rough number, and the Organic Gardening Catalogue's counts are 3kg=average 25-30 tubers to plant approx 5 sq m, or their 1kg trial bags say 10-12 tubers. So about 10 a kilo would seem to be a reasonable rule?

I had never heard of this person (John Jeavon) before...something new to explore - thanks!

LynneA

Joined: 25 Oct 2006
Posts: 4893
Location: London N21

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 08 8:23 pm Post subject:
When I chit my potatoes, I seem to find that a 3kg bag of seed potatoes averages 54 tubers. Pink Fir Apple & relatives about 58. How much growing space are you aiming for?

oldish chris

Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 4148
Location: Comfortably Wet Southport

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 08 9:44 pm Post subject:
From Organic Catalogue _ about 50+ per 3 kilos, from shops about 30! This year Organic Catalogue - "Verity" an astounding 67 tubers (but they ain't half small).

kevin.vinke

Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 1304
Location: Niedersachsen, Germany

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 08 11:03 pm Post subject:

LynneA wrote:

When I chit my potatoes, I seem to find that a 3kg bag of seed potatoes averages 54 tubers. Pink Fir Apple & relatives about 58.

How much growing space are you aiming for?

For the 4 person family food garden itï¿½s 546 sprouted pieces in 220 sq ft .

Btw thanks everyone.

Correction itï¿½s John Jeavons

oldish chris

Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 4148
Location: Comfortably Wet Southport

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 08 9:58 am Post subject:
I'd love to know how you get on!

kevin.vinke

Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 1304
Location: Niedersachsen, Germany

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 08 10:52 am Post subject:

oldish chris wrote:

I'd love to know how you get on!

So would I itï¿½s all new!

guyandzoe

Joined: 12 Jan 2007
Posts: 78

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 08 12:56 pm Post subject:

You need to know the seed size. Seed potatoes are graded over riddles of (usually) 35mm - 55mm or (more expensively) over a 35x50mm.

From memory a 35x55 will give about 250 to 300 spuds per 50kg sack and 35x50 may go as high as 600.

The seed merchant should be able to give you a good idea of the seed count (as some have already said above). But this will differ greatly depending on variety and growing conditions - more small spuds the higher the count.

If you are cutting your seed then you can also grow more sprouts by chitting at a higher temperature to avoid apical dominance and bring all the eyes on at once.

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