Seed Potatoes

[julie]

Received a call from a colleague looking for seed potatoes. Does anyone know of a good local source (Cherokee or Mayes County or beyond) that currently has them? 

Also George, weren't you working toward starting potatoes from actual seed vice a cutting of an old potato with an eye?  Could you tell us about that?


Many thanks,
Julie

[macmex]

I have generally purchased seed potatoes from the local farmers co-op. But I am also working (albeit slowly) on a project of starting potatoes from seed, that is true seed, not a piece of tuber. This is generally called "true potato seed," or "tps." The advantage of doing this is that plants started from seed are going to be potentially even more disease free than certified potatoes. Certified potatoes have generally been grown in a very northern location in order to cut down on aphids, which are the main vector for passing diseases in potatoes. However, at least twice in history, new and really bad diseases have arrived in the U.S.A. and infected, essentially, all of the seed potato supply, having been distributed through the certified seed potato program! It's just that, being really new, the diseases were not recognized by inspectors, until they had already been passed out, all over the continent!

Once one has a disease free stock of potatoes, it is sometimes possible to save tubers and to plant from them, for several years, before they begin to "peter out." If one could master the production and use of true potato seed, then there is the potential of maintaining a nearly inexhaustible source of seed potatoes, and, even to develop strains which are better suited to a given region's climate and cultural tastes.

The challenge in our part of the country is that our summers heat up so quickly and extremely, that it is VERY challenging to actually produce seed. I have purchased a number of packets of diverse seeds from Tom and Rob Wagner of New World Seeds and Tubers. I need to store them in the freezer to preserve them, as it is going to take me years to work with them all. Tom is a true national treasure in my mind. He's a gifted, original, brilliant potato breeder and best of all...he's "eccentric" in the best sense of the word. He doesn't follow the pack. He's an artist with potato genetics. In his listings one can find seed stock with traits which are completely missing from commercial potato stock.

I have to work on chores right now. Will come back to this fascinating topic. I need to discuss:

1) Disadvantages of using tps
2) Starting tps
3) Selecting from tps seedlings

Last summer I lost more than 3/4 of the seedlings I had been working with, due to grasshoppers. This year I am down to just two seedling stocks from Huagalina and one or two blue potato seedling stocks. There have been more complications. But suffice it to say that most of these are going to be used on an experiment to produce seed potato for a FALL crop!

George

[macmex]

Okay, Here's a great thread on growing from true potato seed. Last night I could not find an active listing of anything for sale by Tom, though I didn't have much time to look. His health hasn't been too good for a while. So, he may not be selling. I hope and pray that Rob can absorb a whole lot can carry on when Tom can't!

tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=12908

George

[macmex]

Just found a new site with Tom's seeds (some of them). Here's the link. This is the place for REALLY unique tomatoes and potatoes.

www.tom8toes.com/index.php/

I was working on a row for sweet potatoes today and I came across a lone tuber of one of my Chaposa potato seedlings. This was misplaced because we had to move half the garden last summer, to make room for a gas and water line. Chaposa is a Mexican potato known for being resistant and highly productive.

[macmex]

Good news! My "lost" seedling potato stocks are surfacing where I had planted them last spring. The crop may have been a bust, but at least I should be able to salvage samples to grow out this year! Also, my records were lost, when my IPhone died (hadn't moved them over to a more permanent place), so I will be guessing as to the identity of some. Still, if something really good surfaces, I will definitely contact Tom Wagner and ask for his input, including a name.

[macmex]

Ok, here are some pictures of some of my seedling potatoes, which I started in 2013. Because grasshoppers ate them to the ground I couldn't find them last summer. I thought they were gone. Here are three of what I dug today. I replanted a representative of each hill. I plan on taking many leftovers to the meeting tomorrow (May 4, 2014) so anyone who would like can try them. They are beautiful!


This is a seedling from Huagalina. Yet the tuber is much larger than Huagalina itself (a good thing in my book).


This is a black/blue seedling. I lost my records, so I am not able to identify its lineage. Some of these black/blue seedlings produced nice LARGE roots!


This is a russet. I do not recall what I planted from which it came. But I know I didn't plant any russet seeds. So, it's a cross. I'm impressed. I planted two of these at home and am bringing some to the meeting tomorrow.

George

[amyinowasso]

George, are there particular varieties you recommend, or selected for our climate? This looks interesting!

[snickeringbear]

Not George, but I'll answer that I've grown Tom's varieties for the last 10 years and have found a very small number that are highly adapted to NorthWest Alabama.

My favorite is Azul Toro which produces loads of deep blue/purple spuds. It is both consistent and reliable though severe drought can reduce the crop. Azul Toro does not produce a lot of seed, but I found that delaying planting until mid-April will induce heavy flowering and small amounts of seed set.

My second best is Chellan which is a white potato with sand colored skin. It makes large potatoes that work very well fried or baked. The only weakness is susceptibility to one of the mottle viruses. I collected a few thousand seed this past summer and sent quite a bit to Tom.

The third I really love is a rich purple skinned potato that makes about 2 pounds per hill of small nearly round potatoes that can be boiled or used in my favorite potato, carrot, and roast recipes. Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the variety. I also sent quite a few seed to Tom from this variety.

These three are contenders to produce as well as industry standards like Kennebec.

[macmex]

Ami, I cannot improve on Darryl's answer. So far I have been almost unsuccessful in getting seed from my potatoes. Azul Toro, which I obtained from Darryl a couple of years ago, did produce pretty well. I think I've lost mine in the last year and a half.

I dug my true seed out of the freezer last week and plan to start a couple more.

George