Last year I bought 4 kinds of seed potatoes from Johnny's. They looked terrible? Some didn't even have eyes! Does anyone have a good source for seed potatoes? I live in McLean (Fairfax County), VA. This area has become so la-de-dah that Southern States closed down. Although we have a few good garden centers, I have to drive to Manassas for Southern States.
Where do you buy seed potatoes?
Potato Garden
Ronniger Potato Farm LLC
Milk Ranch Specialty Potatoes LLC
Two companies - one new name - Potato Garden
http://www.potatogarden.com/index.html
This is where a bunch of us buy our seed potatoes!
I've only ordered seed potatoes once, but I had a good experience with Potato Garden: http://www.potatogarden.com/
EDIT: ha ha -- Linda beat me to it!
This message was edited Feb 5, 2013 9:08 AM
^^_^^! LOL, "That's what friends are for!"
THANKS! Just the help I needed.
Don't know if you have these nearby but here, Home Depot, Lowes, Tractor Supply, even the Wmart garden centers handle seed potatoes. I have also purchased at a local feed store but we are more rural.
I like "hands on" purchasing as I can select the taters or at least look at them more closely than when mail ordering.
I also buy regularly from Potato Garden. The thing I found is that when the tomatoes arrive they may not have too many eyes but I order them to be delivered early enough so they will form them before I plant. If I plant potatoes with no eyes I don't know if they will develop them at all but if I let them develop before planting I am assured a better crop. This developing can take several weeks in some cases. This year I ordered from the Maine Potato Lady (www.mainepotatolady.com/) . I had good luck with her potatoes two years ago and she has some varieties I wanted to try so I ordered again this year.
Garadore, if I am not misunderstanding your post, eyes and sprouts are two different things.
Eyes are the indentions where sprouts will develop from.
They won't develop eyes after you receive them. Kristi
Podster,
You are right. But sometimes the eyes are not all that big and do develop enough to sprout. However, I do remember getting some German Butterball a couple of years ago from Milk Ranch, I think - it was one of the above) with no eyes at all. Two were quite large and it surprised me that they had none! So that year they did not sprout. Thank you for clarifying my error so others are not confused!!
I have never really looked that carefully! At what point do potatoes develop eyes? I just assumed if you left them sitting around eventually they would. I must be more observant in the future!!
The bottom line is that I never plant potatoes that haven't sprouted somewhat just to be sure they are viable.
one of the nice things about living in rural Oklahoma at tater planting time is every store has seed potatos for sale some will have more than a dozen varieties
I asked the same question last year, and someone suggested I try a local food co-op. We have one here called Good Foods Co-op. The seed potatoes we got from them were healthy and fantastic!
Love being able to buy then at the local feed store. I can't imagine the shipping on potatoes.
My husband and I love yellow potatoes. The only variety I have seen offered locally is Yukon Gold but there are so many other wonderful ones. I like the idea of checking out the local feed stores. I know my Agway only has Yukon Gold but there are a number of organic farms, Co-ops and CSA's popping up all around so maybe I'll be lucky. The shipping does indeed add to the cost but like my tomatoes I just consider them my Million Dollar Potatoes and indulge myself for the great flavor!! In checking around, The Potato Lady in Maine has lower prices than Potato Garden and shipping about the same, maybe a bit less. That's who I ordered from this year. https://www.mainepotatolady.com/productcart/pc/home.asp
But it is cheaper for her to ship to PA compared to Texas whereas the Potato Garden might ship cheaper to Texas than to PA! Both are excellent vendors, regardless.
I just can't justify buying potatoes that need to be shipped when can buy them at a store I pass everyday. I'll look where the feed/hardware store buys them. I start all my other veggies myself.
JUST TO SATIFY MY CURIOSITY how much are seed potatos where y'all get yours was in Atwoods farm and ranch store today and they were $.69 per pound they had 12 varieties I may be wrong but I thionk they were higher last year if memory is right they were $.89 last year
I can't remember. If they still have them I'll check next time I'm there, which could be tomorrow.
I haven't ordered potatos since I lived in North Dakota - I used Ronnigers, mentioned above. Looking at their website, it looks like they combined with another company and changed their name to "Potato Garden", mentioned above.
I like the little seed potatos better than the chopped up mature potatos.
all of the seed potatos at Atwoods Farm and Ranch store were from Minn. The Pontiac Reds were predominate as they were available in 50lbs bags and they had a lot of the bags
Grits you ask how much the potatoes were. They are 1.39/lb. I better plant the dang things.
All of the seed potatos at Atwoods were $.69 per pound at the local they were $.89 at least yesterday I found a sourse for Perlite in Benton Ar, Just thought to throw that in before I forgot LOL
Thanks, Grits! LOL I live in an area where the prices are higher bc there is no competition BUT it's cheaper then driving further. As it is I'm 6 miles from this place. Dang it's cold!
24° here this morning yesterday I had a eye Doctor Appt in Fort Smith Ar 66 miles away and there was till a lot of snow hanging around at least we have bare ground
This weather is crazy.
I refuse to buy seed potatoes from any mail-order catalog. The cost and especially shipping is enough to turn me off. I buy my seed spuds from a local farm store. The selection isn't always that great, but they're certified disease free and I get to pick and chose those with the most eyes. I like to store them in a room-temp. dark closet for two weeks or so to sprout before I plant them.