Coronavirus: Grow non-seed Potatoes?

applefarmapplr

I can't get hold of seed potatoes and mail orders will take weeks and weeks. Any thoughts on the success of planting ordinary potatoes that are sprouting, from a bag of supermarket spuds? Any types better than others? Needs must...

madpenguin

I did it once years ago and had a bumper crop.
You have nothing to lose by giving it a go!

applefarmapplr

Indeed! Thanks. Thought I saw Carol Klein mention it. Wondered about any successes!

purplerallim

A couple of years ago had some shop bought ones that sprouted. Put four in a potato bag and ended with a few pounds of new potatoes. 😁

Dovefromabove

The other year I planted a few Charlottes that had escaped the cook’s attention long enough to sprout. We had a reasonable crop and they were certainly very tasty. 

I wouldn’t do it year after year because of the risk of introducing a virus into the soil, but as a one off in a year fraught with difficulty ... Im going for it ... I've got a few chitting by the window now. 

madpenguin

My daughter will try anything.
She grew some lovely butternut squash one year from seeds saved from supermarket ones.
Last year she grew 6 tomato plants that had sprouted in her Dad's compost heap,she had bucketfuls of tasty fruit!

applefarmapplr

Thanks for all your replies. All very inspiring! A good year for experimenting and light on the pocket too! 

Bill_and_Ben

I've just planted the last two Agria potatoes from the big sack I got a few days before Christmas as they were sprouting and it's a case of 'waste not want not' in these challenging times! 

My last butternut squash seeds have been washed and dried ready to sow too. And I might even throw a few soft cherry tomatoes I have into soil too to see what happens! 

applefarmapplr

Great ideas! Thanks again. I too will try the cherry tomatoes idea, rather than letting the compost heap have them!