Amazing! I never really thought about seeds from potatoes. Typically when you use a non-seed to grow fruit or vegetables, it's because you need a clone of a good plant to ensure a good crop. Have you grown potatoes from seed before? Do they typically vary much from plant to plant?

[–] 2tapry@lemmy.nz 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

First time planting potato seeds. It's supposed to be a bit hit and miss on what you get, but it leads to you to creating your own potato i.e. not a clone like when you plant seed potatoes.

I'm trying to get to a point where I don't have to buy in much each year. Produce my own everything including seeds. Just something to have a go at, no doubt some things won't go to plan. But that's the fun.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's cool. Is your plan to get some nice ones of your own and start cloning them? Or to do seeds every year and see what happens?

[–] 2tapry@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Probably both since I collected a heap of seeds. If I find a spud that we like I'll try to build up the numbers. We are in a particularly good spot for spuds as we don't get any diseases carried in here.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Does that mean you can plant in the same place year after year without issue?

[–] 2tapry@lemmy.nz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Pretty much. I think crop rotation is a bit overstated personally. If I find a spot that a particular veg. grows well in, why would I not keep growing it there. If you've got healthy soil and don't introduce infected soil, all should be good, though some diseases can blow in with the wind, but here, where I am, due to geography, it's not known to be an issue.

Some plants can build up bugs like nematodes in the soil if continually cropped in the same spot. However, that can be managed, either by planting companion plants that repel the pest, or growing a crop that inhibits it in the off season. I don't go overboard on this type of thing, but it can be helpful in some cases.

With potatoes, the issue is spreading the disease - I'm not intending to sell or give-away potatoes as seed, so that's not a problem. I'm more likely to bring in disease if I buy in seed potatoes, but certified seed potato should be okay.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks for the info. I just rotate because that's what people say you should do. It's nice to have background info.