Ask Gerry

Why do potato seeds go soft? Is there anything I could have done to stop them going soft? Planted them at the end of April, will they be ok?

I'm growing potatos for the first time and I fear one of my stalks may have leaf roll virus! What should I do and is this disease common here in Ireland?

I'm growing potatoes (2nd earlies) in tubs (approx 18'' in diameter and 24'' high) and in each tub I have between 2 & 3 plants. I'm told I can start adding potash now but I have no idea in what quantity per tub above or indeed how often. Is a teaspoon once a week too much?

I'm thinking of growing potatoes but i have not got a clue from start to finish. would be pleased if you could help me.

I had a bed of potatoes last year and only recently noticed that there are some fresh potato sprouts in the same bed this year - can they be left or should i get rid of them? they're obviously growing from potatoes that were left in the ground last year. i had planned on growing cabbage in that bed this year

I planted my potatoes just over 3 weeks ago but no sign of growth yet. They were chitted for 6 weeks in my garden shed in Feb & March but as there was a fairly heavy spell of frost during this period I am wondering if the crop may have been damaged by this? Should I leave them a bit longer or dig one up to check?

I want to grow some potatoes in containers and I want to know how many seed potatoes do I put in each container and will garden soil do or do I need to mix compost with it,if so could I use homemade compost or must it be bought compost.

Every year we try growing potatoes and before we get to dig them out they are attacked by this slug and are full of holes

Have chitted Orla potatoes in my conservatory which are beginning to go green, can I plant them or forfeit them and purchase others.

Can you tell me is Kilkenny suitable for sowing the blight resistant potatoe,variety Sarpo Mira as I have heard that they are only suitable for planting in the west of Ireland.

Last week I bought some Home Guard seed potatoes. When I opened them they are very soft with very long shoots already on them. I'm just wondering will these be okay to plant or should I take back and get others. I have other seed potatoes of British Queen chitting and these are much harder with shorter shoots.

I am growing potatoes in tubs (2nd earlies) and the instructions state t I should put 6'' of compost into a tub on top of which I then place the potato etc. It then states that I should cover the potato with compost etc. My question is simple in that 'is it ok to use a mixture of earth and homemade compost instead of just compost that I could buy at a garden centre?'

We have a large area in the garden which is used as a percolation for our biocycle system. this has been barren except for grass for 10 yrs now, last october we covered the complete area with plastic and left over the winter. We have now removed the plastic and all the grass has died and we are turning the soil. We would like to grow some potatoes on some of it as it is raised and there should excdllent drainage. What do we need to do with the soil in preparation? Also, we would like to grow them under the plastic as it seems to help control the weeds, can you plese offer your advice?

I want to find out where to buy about 20kg of "Orla" "Sarpo Mira" and "Sarpo Axona" seed potatoes anywhere in ireland. I live near Belfast.

I leapt upon your piece re seed potatoes just now... I have been dreaming about them ever since I had the worst scab on my Duke of York last year. In 2009, I got the most wonderful variety, called Accent. And I have been searching for Accent ever since. Any idea where I can get them? They will not send them from the UK. Also... am I right in thinking that I cannot plant potatoes in the area with scab for some years? What caused this?