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WHAT TO DO WITH SEED POTATOES ON ARRIVAL

UNPACK - Allows light and air circulation

AVOID - Exposure to frost and moisture

PLEASE NOTE: Potatoes may be damp on arrival. This is natural due to increased respiration in transit. They will dry out in a few hours if air is allowed to circulate and will be absolutely fine.

SEASONAL ALERT – EARLY SPROUTING

On delivery you may see some early sprouting, weak white sprouts of varying length. The tubers themselves should still be quite firm.

The potatoes are sound healthy seed which will grow and produce good crops.

What has caused the earlier than normal sprouting?

This summer has been a good season for growing potatoes however temperatures remained warm throughout harvest and during storage. This has had the effect of breaking dormancy earlier than normal. Hence the shoots.

Early varieties: - can in the absence of light rapidly produce a single white elongated sprout in the packaging. The tips can be susceptible to atmospheric bacteria which turn brown/black. When knocked off, the potato starts to sprout again, healthily but more slowly.

Main Crop varieties: - are also just beginning to sprout, but they are much slower and are just showing as white spots on the eyes. “The eyes are opening.”

What can be done? Sprouting is natural and there would be more concern if there was no growth at all. A number of steps can be taken to slow the process down.

• Better ventilation – a well-ventilated area with a temperature of between 4 – 9 °C is best.
• On arrival unpack the goods, particularly earlies, thus allowing more light and air circulation.
• Store in as cool a place as possible without risking exposure to overnight frost. Above 10 degrees centigrade potatoes will begin to grow quite rapidly.
• A dry atmosphere is beneficial to avoid atmospheric bacterial and fungal growth.
• Rotate stocks allowing light to reach all and if topping up, move unused stock to the front.
• If the weak white shoots are knocked off accidentally or on purpose, it will slow growth down. The potato will form new shoots more slowly.
• Encourage gardeners to buy their seed earlier and chit them.