Looking at this picture, you may wonder whether or not this is some sort of alien experiment gone terribly wrong, but alas it's just what's left of last year's potatoes, which started sprouting in the basement back in January. The All Blue potatoes I grew last summer were so pretty when sliced open. When I placed an order for seed potatoes a couple months ago, I was really disappointed to learn that Moose Tubers wasn't offering them this year. This past weekend, I rummaged through this mess to see if there were any potatoes worth salvaging to plant in the garden. But in the end, I decided against it and chucked them all into the compost bin.
My seed potatoes arrived in the mail yesterday. I ended up choosing another blue-fleshed variety called "Adirondack Blue". I also ordered an early blushed-red variety called "Augusta" but unfortunately there must have been an issue with this variety as the company sent me Yukon Gold potatoes in its place. I have to admit that that I'm rather disappointed because of this.
Next year, I think I'll forgo purchasing mail-order seed potatoes. I was at our local feed store this past weekend and noticed that they had some All Blue, All Red and Kennebec potatoes (among others) for sale at a reasonable price. Sure they cost more per pound but then again, you don't have to pay the hefty shipping and handling costs. I may have to swing back this weekend just to get a few.
Same thing happened to my stored potatoes from last year, I had to chuck them and bought new starters. This time I'm cutting back on potatoes, we don't eat enough spuds to keep them aroung for winter consumption, I'm only growing 1 lb blue and 1 lb red, I mixed them together in a half barrel, they are crowded, but I intend to harvest them at baby stage for salads or side dishes.
ReplyDeleteYou should have planted the sprouted potato. I've successful planted Yukon Golds that have sprouted for four years now. Just gently wrap the shoot around the seed potato and plant it. It will grow just fine.
ReplyDeleteAt the little store I buy them from they are often cheaper than mail order. I didn't buy them last year though so don't know if they went up. It is too bad the blue ones didn't store long enough.
ReplyDeleteYou will probably have a bumper crop growing out of that compost bin this year! I started buying mine from the local feed & seed, too - they are hard to grow here due to the heat, so I rely on the varieties chosen for the farmers around here and stocked instead of ordering - I save my experimenting for tomato varieties now :)
ReplyDeleteI haven’t looked at my seed potatoes yet. I probably should evaluate them to see if they are in any condition to use this year. Luckily there are feed and hardware stores nearby that carry seed potatoes just in case I need to purchase some. I would have been very disappointed if I ordered a variety that was replace by Yukon Gold. They should have given you a choice substitution or refund.
ReplyDeleteThe tubers probably sprouted so much and so early because they were stored in an area that was too warm. The cooler the temperature (but not freezing) the longer they will store before starting to sprout. You could plant those sprouted potatoes and they would have grown just fine - but handling such delicate and long sprouts would have been a pain in the &$$!
ReplyDeleteI always try to buy local first! The only issue is the plants from my favorite store aren't always organinc.
ReplyDeleteI bet you could have planted the seed potatoes you had. Is it too late to pull a few out and try planiting them?
Love your blog!
The first photo looks kind of like a coral reef!
ReplyDeleteI really love the first photo! I think that you will be happy with the Yukon Golds. We just love them.
ReplyDeleteLast spring I planted a lot of potatoes that looked like your first picture. Blue and otherwise. I just cut back the sprouts and dropped them in the holes. Got a great crop!
ReplyDeleteIf you have a large Ace near you check them out. Ours carries around 10-15 varieties of certified seed taters every year and they are about 2.50-3.00 a pound... much cheaper than I have ever found on line and generally ones that will grow in your particular area unlike when you order off line.
ReplyDeleteThere was a serious issue with seed potatoes this year, the back of your fedco/moose slip should tell the tale. I only received 1 out of the 3 varieties I ordered which is upsetting being they are 'out of stock', yet I ordered them in December. I should have been first in line, but clearly that is not the way they doled up the seed stash this year.
ReplyDeleteI am re-thinking them for next year as well, I ordered what was left from The Maine Potato Lady but it will be weeks before they arrive.
I wish I knew of somewhere my way that carries the good varieties, as I think I would forgo ordering as well.
The is a pretty strange looking photo :)
ReplyDeleteI exactly thought the same - some alien experiment on 'tatoes.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the new seed 'tatoes.
Sorry about the Yukon Golds... it's never as fun to grow the "normal" stuff. I have some All-Blues and I don't have enough space for all the seed potatoes I have. If you'd like a few I'd be happy to share. (Live in Boston.)
ReplyDeletestrange potatoes.
ReplyDeleteAnyway interesting image.