Get a good crop of potatoes: handle with care.
A good crop of potatoes begins with good handling of quality seed. Handle your seed carefully to avoid the disappointment of finding damage after bringing your seed out of storage. Here are a few tips:
Always check your seed potatoes yourself when delivered.
Potato seed should be handled gently. Do not allow the tubers to fall more than 15cm during handling.
Store your seed in new or washed, and preferably disinfected, bins.
If storing your seed outside or in open sheds, regularly spray with an appropriate insecticide to protect against invasion of pests.
Wait 7 – 14 days from delivery before transferring your seed to cool storage. This will allow fresh damage to heal. Additional wait time is required in colder climates. Allow fresh air for curing.
Certified Seed Potato Victorian Growers stand by the quality of their product. Any complaint or query should be directed to the supplier within the timeframe stipulated in the terms and conditions of sale.
Additional protection against storage rot can be provided through the use of fungicides. Inform your seed grower of your requirements so that fungicides can be applied during grading.
Your seed is more likely to develop problems if stored in direct sunlight, against shed walls, in the paddock, under trees or in areas prone to frost.
Maintain storage temperature between 3°C and 4°C and ensure adequate air circulation. If you do not have automatic air exchange, this will need to be done manually.
Regularly clean and disinfect seed cutters and planters during use and between lots.
Potato plants are most susceptible to viruses when seedlings emerge. Protective spray programs should be considered if insects are present or disease presence is significant in the area.
If tipping from bags into bins, allow time for curing before transferring to cool storage.
