Seed potatoes,2nd and 3rd crop

[RAV1D]

How come every garden center I have been to don't seem to be selling seed potatoes (ones you plant to grow with the shoots on them) I know there are 3 lots of crops, the first earlys and lates then the 2nd earlys that are due to put in around now and they have a late 3rd ones also. Iv grown my first lot and dug them up as they are ready and decent size and wanted to buy the 2nd lot to plant now. One shop I went into and asked and the guy laughed at me and said your lucky to get potatoes to sprout at this time of year and as for 2nd crop your too late. I know He is wrong because last year I grew 3 lots and They do sprout any time of year. I know I can order them online so that proves him wrong to start with but nowhere to be found at the garden centers.

[Maydup]

I've always bought my seed potatoes in late Feb to chit and plant in March/April. I plant the first earlies first, then seconds and finally main crop. They all go in together but the first earlies are harvested now, the second during July/August while the main crop take about 5 months to grow and are dug up during Sewptember before the cold weather.

Most garden centres have finished selling the seed potatoes since most people have planted ther's by ow, but as you say, you might get some online.

If not pop some courgette plants in the space left by the spuds, they're quick and easy or some brocolli for the winter.

[smurf]

if you cant find any buy some old potatoes from the supermarket and store them in a dark place until chits appear then plant , they will grow just as good

[RAV1D]

Thankyou for your answers, I didn't realise you plant them all at the same time and just dig the different ones out at different time periods! I was led to belive you had to plant them at different stages as well but this is not the case as Maidup explained so thankyou! Last year I just planted them at different time periods and they still all did well but I admit the seccond and the third lot was ones I found sprouting in the cupboard that hadn't been eaten.

[Maydup]

Shame the guy in the shop didn't help to explain it rather than laugh smugly.

I often use this site for reference Rav1d - there's not much they don't explain on here about vegetable growing.

http://www.allotment.org.uk/

[RAV1D]

Thanks for the link to that web site,Looks interesting. I'v saved it on my computer short cuts so i can go strait to it anytime! cheers for that!