Cutting seed potatoes in half?
- pelmetman
- A selfsufficientish Regular
- Posts: 802
- Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 3:25 pm
- Location: Lincolnshire
- Contact:
Cutting seed potatoes in half?
I've had a look around and couldn't find anything about it............probably searched in the wrong area
I've bought my seed spuds (Charlottes) and they're quite large so thinking of cutting them in half........but should I do it now and allow the cut end to dry, or can I do it as I plant them?
I've bought my seed spuds (Charlottes) and they're quite large so thinking of cutting them in half........but should I do it now and allow the cut end to dry, or can I do it as I plant them?
Kind Regards
Pelmetman Dave
Pelmetlady Sue
Pelmetdog Troy
Pelmetman Dave
Pelmetlady Sue
Pelmetdog Troy
- Davie Crockett
- Living the good life
- Posts: 230
- Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:48 pm
- latitude: 52.12292
- longitude: 2.30910
- Location: Malvern, UK.
- Contact:
Re: Cutting seed potatoes in half?
Hi Dave, I can remember my Grandad doing this one year. He cut them vertically (with the eyes uppermost) and then dabbed them dry and dusted the cut with flowers of sulphur. (I guess this was to limit rot/infection/insect infestation).
I don't remember how it affected his final crop though.
Just googled this which confirms the way he did it: http://www.gardenersclick.com/gardening ... of_sulphur
Edit: Just found this which has more specific advice: http://topveg.com/2008/01/how-to-divide ... d-potatoes
I don't remember how it affected his final crop though.
Just googled this which confirms the way he did it: http://www.gardenersclick.com/gardening ... of_sulphur
Edit: Just found this which has more specific advice: http://topveg.com/2008/01/how-to-divide ... d-potatoes
Time flies like an arrow; vinegar flies like an uncovered wine must.
Re: Cutting seed potatoes in half?
Yes I've done this, in fact I regularly do it.
When you buy seed potatoes you always seem to get 4 or 5 huge ones and those are the ones I cut. Try to cut them so that you have a fairly equal amount of eyes or sprouts on each half, and I cut mine the day before I plant them.
If you do it too early they can shrivel through water loss and I don't like putting freshly cut potatoes in the soil. It's probably perfectly OK, my grandfather used to cut them as he planted them, but that's the way I've always done it.
When you buy seed potatoes you always seem to get 4 or 5 huge ones and those are the ones I cut. Try to cut them so that you have a fairly equal amount of eyes or sprouts on each half, and I cut mine the day before I plant them.
If you do it too early they can shrivel through water loss and I don't like putting freshly cut potatoes in the soil. It's probably perfectly OK, my grandfather used to cut them as he planted them, but that's the way I've always done it.
Tony
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.
- hedgewizard
- A selfsufficientish Regular
- Posts: 1415
- Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2006 9:26 pm
- Location: dorset, UK
- Contact:
Re: Cutting seed potatoes in half?
The same - although instead of sulphur my grandad used wood ash. Works well enough if you've got some, but I'm not sure how necessary it is.
http://www.farminmypocket.co.uk - polytunnel offers, reviews, and more self-sufficiency information than you can shake a chicken at
- pelmetman
- A selfsufficientish Regular
- Posts: 802
- Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 3:25 pm
- Location: Lincolnshire
- Contact:
Re: Cutting seed potatoes in half?
I dare say your right Wabbit............trouble is my short term memory rarely lasts a few dayswabbit955 wrote:they done it on gardeners world last year
Kind Regards
Pelmetman Dave
Pelmetlady Sue
Pelmetdog Troy
Pelmetman Dave
Pelmetlady Sue
Pelmetdog Troy
- Mrs Moustoir
- Living the good life
- Posts: 402
- Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:15 am
- Location: Worcestershire, but my heart's in Brittany
Re: Cutting seed potatoes in half?
My Dad used to do the same after they were chitted so he could make sure each piece had a decent sprout on it. He also dusted with the yellow sulphur powder before planting.
- bill1953
- Living the good life
- Posts: 367
- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:50 am
- latitude: 53.95
- longitude: 8.95
- Location: Béal Átha na Muice, Maigh Eo, Eire
Re: Cutting seed potatoes in half?
I have done it too and agree with the comments re not planting straight away after cutting.
Just because you see two eyes shining in the jungle at night, do not think that the worse thing that could happen is that you are about to be attacked by a tiger. It could be two one-eyed tigers.
- bonniethomas06
- A selfsufficientish Regular
- Posts: 1246
- Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:24 am
- Location: Wiltshire, UK
Re: Cutting seed potatoes in half?
I guess if potato peelings sprout when they are in the compost bin, you can't need much potato attached to get the plant going!
"A pretty face is fine, but what a farmer needs is a woman who can carry a pig under each arm"
My blog...
http://www.theparttimesmallholder.blogspot.com
My blog...
http://www.theparttimesmallholder.blogspot.com
- pelmetman
- A selfsufficientish Regular
- Posts: 802
- Joined: Wed Feb 24, 2010 3:25 pm
- Location: Lincolnshire
- Contact:
Re: Cutting seed potatoes in half?
Thanks people .............I'll use wood ash as I haven't any flowers of Sulphur.........and we get plenty of ash with the log burner
If the weather carries on like this we'll soon be planting
If the weather carries on like this we'll soon be planting
Kind Regards
Pelmetman Dave
Pelmetlady Sue
Pelmetdog Troy
Pelmetman Dave
Pelmetlady Sue
Pelmetdog Troy
Re: Cutting seed potatoes in half?
In the war people used to post just the potao eyes to their friends and rellies, and they would be succesful. Heard this on radio $ GQT recently.
- merlin
- Living the good life
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2012 9:52 am
- latitude: 42.165085
- longitude: 26.567146
- Location: Bulgaria
- Contact:
Re: Cutting seed potatoes in half?
I still have not found a supplier of seed pots here, well not one that can tell me the type anyway. However, every year my friend brings me a bag of Charlottes. I chit them and cut them up. I get quite a few. I don’t use any ash or anything though. They go really well. I cut them as I am planting them.
A few short films of us making home made food and drink in Bulgaria
http://inbulgaria.co.uk/
http://inbulgaria.co.uk/