Question About Growing Potatoes In A Bag

[Stargazer]

Last year I grew potatoes in a green bag supplied by Thompson and Morgan. This year I left it too late to get the same offer so instead bought some seed potatoes which were described as "salad potatoes". As I was so late planting them, I have only just tried cooking some (they have not even flowered). I watered them regularly and copiously but when I cooked the first lot they disintigrated into flakey mush. My brother said he though it was because they had too much heat (it it was very hot since I planted them). Can this be the cause? Also is one of the potatoes which looks different, the parent "seed" potato and if so can it be cooked and eaten?

[diddlydo]

For a start, don't eat the seed potato. When it's hot and dry, home-grown potatoes do have this irritating habit of disintegrating if they're boiled. Steam them instead and it's no problem.. Also if they haven't flowered yet leave them in the ground - has the foliage died back yet?

[Stargazer]

No, the foliage hasn't died back yet, but time is going on and the spuds I got out were quite large considering they were sold as salad potatoes. Next year I will get them from T & M again. I think they were Cara but will have to check. Will also keep sack in a shadier area on my garden.

[alavahalf]

If the potatoes were Cara, then you have got the wrong ones.
Cara is a main crop variety, and you would expect them to take around 20 weeks from planting to harvest.
Salad type potatoes can be ready in around 10/12 weeks depending on where you are located.
I've only just planted some seed potatoes. They have been put in builders buckets and left outside...before the first sign of frost they will be put in the greenhouse and left there until Christmas. Hopefully we will have new potatoes on Xmas day.
..... and no you can't eat the parent/seed potato

Next year try.. first early .. potatoes if you are after salad potatoes.