The first time I heard the words seed
potato I imagined a packet of seeds looking somewhat like bean seeds! How wrong
I was. Seed Potatoes are what you use to
grow potatoes and look like baby potatoes.
About 1kg of certified seed should produce about 10kgs of potato.
The varieties of certified seed potato
seem endless – Dutch Cream, Sebago, Pontiac and Desiree are just a few. There are red ones, pink ones and even blue
ones! Some are good for boiling or
mashing, some are better for baking and frying, there are even some that are
perfect for microwaving! Some are all-rounders.
How you like your potatoes cooked is how you choose which variety to
grow.
Why should I buy certified seed
potato, why can’t I just plant the sprouts that grow from my potatoes from the
grocery store?
Potato plants can carry many potato
diseases: bacterial, viral, and fungal; and some of these are passed on through
potato tubers. Plant viral infections are persistent and can not only affect
your potato plants but your neighbourhood’s plants as well. All plants in the potato family can be
affected like tomatoes, eggplants and chillies. These diseases can also
contaminate soil and make an area implantable.
If using non certified seed potatoes
the chance of having a disease outbreak is increased. This is because the appearance of a growing
potato crop, or the harvested tubers, is not a reliable guide to the pathogen
level in the tubers. For example, late season viral infections may not be
apparent until the next season’s crop is growing. So give your vegetable patch
a little TLC and start with healthy certified seed.
Potatoes like a sunny well drained
position. It is best to plant them in rich
fertile soil that has not had potatoes grown in for at least 3 years. The
best time to plant potatoes is 2-3 weeks before the last frost. The seed should
have shoots of about 1cm long; this usually takes about 4 weeks, if seed was
bought in June. Large seed can be cut into two, three or four. The cut surface should
dry for a couple of days before planting.
The principle for growing potatoes is the same whether you grow
them in the ground or in pots.
1.
Plant the certified seed potato in soil and as they
grow and the potatoes start to show through the soil pile more soil up around
them. Potatoes form on the surface, when you pile soil up onto of them continually
it helps stops the potatoes from being exposed to light and going green. (Green
potatoes can upset the stomach) This process also helps produce more potatoes.
2. Harvest your potatoes when the lower leaves on the
plants start to turn yellow. You can dig only what you need and to leave the
other plants to grow on. If you want to dig and store your potatoes cut the
tops off and allow 2-3 weeks before digging.
Dug potatoes
should be kept in a cool dark spot.
Good luck and just think how amazed your friends
will be when at your Summer pool party you have blue potato salad!
