Comments on: Do Potatoes Cross-Pollinate?

By: Sidlow Mcfarland

Sidlow Mcfarland — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:53:31 +0000

Some years ago I grew Dunbar Standard( White) potatoes with Arran Victory( Dark blue) potatoes nearby.I found that in some cases I had white potatoes with blue splashes. Explain I grew these for some years but have none now.

By: Paul Richardson

Paul Richardson — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:32:52 +0000

I think you have sorted this by now. Cross-pollination would only matter if you grew new potatoes from true seed, i.e. the seeds in the small tomato-like fruits which are sometimes borne on the shoot. Tubers won’t be affected, as they are clones of the parent, and genetically identical.

By: Kath in Oregon

Kath in Oregon — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 02:33:16 +0000

http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42161

Not worth it really: nearly 5000 varieties already exist, half of these native to Peru. What we need to do is get them to export a few of the heirlooms (once they’ve banked enough). The Europeans only took the boring ones.

By: jane l

jane l — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:05:47 +0000

I think the confusion here is that what we plant are called ‘seed’ potatoes. Nothing to do with seeds ( pollinated flowers ) at all. Simply a term to describe what you use to start off a new plant. The tubers you’ll get are clones of the one you put in !

Never heard of anyone sowing the actual seed off the plant tops. Leave that to the scientists and plant breeders.

By: mtp

mtp — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:16:32 +0000

Thanks for all the advice guys.

By: Katie

Katie — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:46:05 +0000

I’d not thought of potato seeds – I spose somewhere someone must play with them to create new frankenstein potatoes (Is that what monster munch crisps are made of?).
An elderly plotholder on our allotments told me about how he used to graft tomatoes because he had friends who worked at some major tomato place where they grew millions of them and taught him loads of stuff. It’s only been very recently that I’ve seen grafted veggies for sale in the UK for the public though.

By: Penny

Penny — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:30:43 +0000

Hi
My husband grew some potatoes from seeds from out allotment last year – he hoped to cross pink fir and charlotte – the lovely nutty taste but without the knobbly bits. The yields were low but the potatoes seemed more charlotty to me (hush don’t say) he has kept some as seed pots for this year so we will see if we get bigger yield
Keeps him amused on lottie
Penny

By: Pete T

Pete T — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:25:19 +0000

..it’s the tomato like fruits that contain potato “seed”, not the tubers. New varieties are produced from growing on these “tomato seeds”.

Look interesting, but they are quite small potatoes. You may be lucky enough to get, and a few to keep back for planting if they’re any good!!

Up here in North West Sutherland, we’ve just had another dusting of snow, thats two nights running now. Beautiful day now with bright sunshine, and hope to get glass in my new (second hand) greenhouse. Then I can start planting. Love this time of year, nights getting longer, days warmer, and the hope of new growth, even have a few snowdrops out..

By: Jo

Jo — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:57:47 +0000

Your varieties sound interesting. I look forward to following your progress with them.

By: Kath in Oregon

Kath in Oregon — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:47:09 +0000

I just love home-grown potatoes. In fact it’s the only vegetable I do grow (shady environment limits my garden activities). I suspect the names in Europe are different but there are some (really expensive in the store) ‘fingerlings’ that I take pains to grow. Norwegian ‘fir’ (or Finn) apple is my favorite and Russian ‘banana’ is a close second (and very prolific) variety. The purple fingerlings are very attractive but I don’t find they taste very good. Anyone else grow fingerlings?

I remember the early Jerseys (yum!) but these are a close second in taste.