Can I still grow my second early potatoe seeds?

Hi everyone,

I am new to growing your own fruit and veg, I have a small patio and I am currently growing, peppers, chillies, butternut squash, tomatoes, carrots and a few others all in pots and they seem to be doing well.

However, now I would like to grow potatoes. I have done my research and most gardern centres will be selling the next potato seeds at the end of this month.

I really wanted to grow English Queen, Maris piper and golden wonder, but realised it was too late and out of season.

However, yday I passed the 99p shop and saw they had potato seeds and found English Queen Second Earlies 8pcs Solanum tuberosum I which stated to be planted between March and April. So I bought a few.

Can I still grow these now even though it is out of season(I accept the timing will be out but will it still grow)?

Will it be safe, rotten, or infected?

Am I better buying my favourite potatoes from the supermarket and growing them that way?

If these are possible to grow I am looking to grow one potato seed per pot, how big does my pot need to be for one potato?

Thanks for your time.

xxxx

 

Hi Sunset,

If you plant now, you should get new potatoes for christmas. You risk the frosts taking out the plants though. I'd give it a go, in fact, i planted some out about 2 weeks ago. The plants will grow, they can't read the planting instructions.

I would use a pot about 12" diameter. Some people plant into old tyres, adding more tyres and earthing up as the plant grows

 

I reckon if you have 13 frost free weeks left you can grow second earlies.

About container size - I grow them in buckets (99p from B & Q) 3 seed potatoes to a bucket.
I don't know what you would do with 1 seed to a container - or why.

 

yes you are right 'plants cant read instructions' how many potatoes seeds can i plant in a 12 inch pot, plus are they any good step by step pic guide on how to plant potatoes seeds? or should i just plant them like i would any other plant??

Thanks

 

I like the bucket idea, so i will try it tomo thanks, three seeds to a bucket i will try that too! thanks.

 

Ave a look here,

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/factsheets/gg36.php

 

Thanks for the info, perfect! X

 

what else could i plant now on a patio and hope for some veges before frost?

 

I've just sown bulbing fennel & will do another sowing of pak choi, both of these tend to bolt when sown earlier. You could get some purple sprouting broccoli on the go for next spring & some yellow mustard for late greens

 

Oh, and japanese onions from seed in mid august