Last year's spuds as seed?

[The Prehistorian]

Is there any reason why I shouldn't used the first earlies that still I have int he shed as seed potatoes for this year? They seem to be happily chitting away like mad. And given that this particular variety is £7 a bag from the supplier and I normally use three bags, it would seem mad not to use last years if this is an option? I note that where I hadn't got all of the ones from the year before out of the ground, they managed to grow quite happily last year. If I get a smaller harvest that is not a problem as I always seem to have too many any way.

[wulf]

I'm just about to read a book on potatoes, after which I'll be an expert ;)

However, I don't see any problem with re-using your own tubers... in fact, surely that is good idea.

Wulf

[gregorach]

There's nothing magic about seed potatoes. Commercially they're separated from "ware" (eating) potatoes to restrict the spread of diseases, but that shouldn't be a problem at a small scale. Better not be, I'll be relying almost entirely on my own store for seed potatoes this year... And some of my best crops have come from volunteers - although they were in the muck heap.

[Odsox]

Of course you can.
I have been using my own saved seed for years, in fact they are probably unique varieties now.
I always sort out the seed I'm going to keep when I dig them in the autumn by selecting the smallish sized ones from roots that produced the best sized and most prolific crops.
The only ones I don't save are the first earlies, mainly because we eat the lot, small ones and all.

[okra]

Of course you can.
I have been using my own saved seed for years, in fact they are probably unique varieties now.
I always sort out the seed I'm going to keep when I dig them in the autumn by selecting the smallish sized ones from roots that produced the best sized and most prolific crops.
The only ones I don't save are the first earlies, mainly because we eat the lot, small ones and all.

Have done similar with no adverse effects and thinking about it's probably been a practice for many generations before widespread selling of seed potatoes started

[The Prehistorian]

thanks peeps. Interesting point about selecting those to be stored for seed - have to try that next time.