I bought true potato seeds. They’re open pollinated varieties of the Sarpo kind.They are known for being mildew and late blight resistant.
I’m going to start some in my windowsill with lights and heatmats to get them to a rather sure start. I hope to collect their seeds next year then
http://sarpo.co.uk/history/
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I have grown a TPS kind already, but they were clones. They didn’t produce seeds. A friend gave them and said the owner calls them “queen of the mashed potatos”.
I like they sprout very little , so they’re good keepers at least.
I am very interested in your results. I have been growing Sarpo Mira for years, they are really late blight resistant. Until now I was growing them from seed potatoes, it would be fantastic to grow them from seeds.
Out of 60 Sarpo Mira bushes I grew last year, one has produced fruit that I was able to collect seeds from. I’m attempting to germinate them now. We will see how it goes.
I’m going to start some in my windowsill with lights and heatmats to get them to a rather sure start.
I’ve only started TPS two years, but my experience, and fueled by my reading, is that potatoes don’t want bottom heat to germinate. (Very much the opposite of peppers.)
Wojchiech. I’ll have to curb my enthusiasm i guess. Sixty flowers 1 seeding isn’t much…
Christopher. Bottom heat is 18 degrees Celsius in my indoor set-up ( 64 Fahrenheit). Is that too hot?
The 65/18° day and 55/13° night is what I found to work well, but that didn’t need any heat where I live – that’s just about the temp of my office this time of year.
I’ve bought Sarpo Surprise tubers from Vreeken (3 packs). I got quite many different types. Most were heavy fielding, elongated, purple inside. I have one that is purple inside while white outside whioch is supposed to be rather rare. Like you start to peel it and you think it’s a boring white one and then the shock comes. Unfortunately that one doesn’t yield as heavily.
I also got sick amounts of own TPS from them while they were sterile in Central Europe at a friend’s place. Definitely fertile at my location. About 20-25% of my potatoes are Sarpo Surprise every year because they give large amounts of food per plant so it has become my main “food potato” over the years.
I didn’t sow the second generation TPS yet. But the vast majority of SS plants set berries in clusters on their own, I don’t even have to hand-pollinate.
I tried TPS for the first time this year. I think it is common to have a small harvest the first season. The plants should produce more abundantly when grown from tubers. Are you going to plant the tubers from this season next year?
Yes. They’re in thé fridge. I’ve got purple tubers someone grew from seed. They last a long time without sprouting. Which have extended female flower parts. But never give fruits. I want to see if they cross.
Hoping for more seeds from peeps in Europe to grow out as well.
I am the guy who saved those Sarpo Surprise seeds and gave them all to Vreeken. They were mainly (Sarpo Mira x Vitelotte) F2 and F3, nicely grexed. I haven’t grown these for 3 years, mainly because of lack of space.
I’m very happy you did Lieven David, but they didn’t mention you on the website i believe. That’s not nice of them.
I’ve gotten some more seed from @polarca who’s bought hers years ago. They were a lot more diverse when she got them from Vreeken, and she’s added quite some others of who’s origins i’m not too sure. But they’re a sight to behold her disco taters.
Thank you for being a pioneer on who’s giant shoulder we can stand.
It’s a shame you don’t get more land. If i were dictator of Europe i’d make sure plant breeders get all the space they need. Don’t wait for it!
ps i did see that in the EUropean Seed Swap you’re not next after France, which i find a bit weird, because i saw you were a member, or is that your choice like that Lieven?
So it was regular Vitelotte? Because I think Vreeken says Vitelotte Noir and I kept wondering if it’s even the same.
Yep, Sarpo Surprise I cherish, I saved several phenos and grow them year after year. Originally, three packages (of tubers) from Vreeken I started with. Almost all are fertile, male TOO at my location.
And I saved TPS in three consecutive years by now. Several set berries in clusters. I have yet to grow my own TPS, though.
