Albert Bartlett Seed Potato 'Vivaldi'

Chitting’ seed potatoes before you plant will help get them off to a flying start. Simply place the tubers in a cool, light place to encourage them to produce shoots.

This process is recommended for first earlies, along with second earlies and salad varieties, but not so much for main crop potatoes. 

• Place the seed potatoes in a seed tray, so that they are just touching, or in sections of egg boxes.
• Keep the ‘rose end’, where most of the eyes are, at the top – this is where the chits will form.
• Place the trays or boxes in a cool, light and frost-free environment at around 7°C.
• The aim of chitting is to form plump, dark green or purple shoots about 2.5cm (1inch) long
• Thin and long white shoots are a sign of too much heat and not enough light.
• If shoots are slow to appear, move them to a warmer place about three weeks before they’re due to be planted and leave them there for a couple of weeks, before returning them to a cool spot for the final week.

Potatoes grow in most soil types but do especially well in a well-drained loam that’s not too heavy.

Ideally, prepare the ground during late autumn or early winter so that the frosts can break down the soil and dig in plenty of well-rotted organic matter, such as compost or manure, to create a reasonable depth. Avoid planting potatoes on ground that’s previously been used for this crop within the past three or four years to avoid the build-ups of pests, such as wire worm, and diseases.

Dig a V-shaped trench, or use a trowel to make individual deep holes, and place the potatoes inside. Rows running north to south will allow the sun’s rays to warm both sides of the crop.

• First and second early and salad potatoes should be planted 30cm (1ft) apart to a depth of 10cm (4 inches). Rows should be 45cm (1.5ft) apart. 
• Main crop seed potatoes should be spaced 40cm (16inches) apart and 10cm (4 inches) below the soil. Aim to have rows 60cm (2ft) away from each other.
• When shoots first appear through the soil, ‘earth up’ the potatoes by pulling soil over the shoots from either side to create a ridge. This will protect the plants from late frosts, stop the light from turning potatoes green and encourage more tubers to form further up the stems.
• The earthing up process can be repeated until the ridge is about 20cm (8inches) high. Feed plants with a specialist potato fertiliser each time if desired.
• Potatoes are thirsty plants need plenty of moisture while they are growing, especially around flowering time. Water them well during dry periods.
• Some growers plant seed potatoes under black polythene, with slits cut for the emerging shoots, and don’t earth up.

Seed Potatoes

Our seed potatoes are meticulously graded to sizes ranging from 35mm x 35mm to 55mm x 55mm. This grading ensures that the smallest seed potatoes in the sample are unable to fall through a 35mm square, offering you consistent quality. While more modern varieties tend to have a more uniform size, our focus on unique and heritage varieties means you may encounter greater size variability within each pack. Rest assured, we will always provide the stated weight in your order.

The harvest you achieve will ultimately depend on your specific growing conditions. Generally, smaller potatoes yield smaller crops, while larger ones produce more abundant harvests. However, it’s important to note that regardless of size, 1kg of seed potatoes will yield a comparable overall harvest, whether the seed potatoes are small or large.

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