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Seed Potato Classifications

Average grocer's potatoes and garden grown seed potatoes carry more spores of bacteria and fungal pest infestations than high grade Scottish Basic seed potatoes. Additionally, non-certified seed potatoes can carry PCN eelworm or may perhaps be treatable with sprout suppressant that may prevent your harvest from growing properly. Mild mosaic disease happens when the aphid-transmitted Potato Virus A infects crops together with Potato Virus X

Seed potatoes found within the Eu are classified in 3 classifications:

Pre-basic

Basic

Certified

Certified category seed potatoes aren't produced in Scotland to lessen the potential risk of disease in Pre-Basic and Basic plants.

Basic Seed are grown from tubers that are from specialist, officially approved Pre-basic producers before being used to create the high grade Basic seed or lower grade Certified seed that is marketed to household and export trading markets, including lower class CC seed produced in England or Wales.

This means Pre-basic Scottish seed potatoes are free from defects and disorders for instance leaf roll, severe mosaic, total virus, mild mosaic, and blackleg. By comparison, CC class seed potatoes could have between 2-5% of crops affected by exactly the same diseases.

Developing crops are examined during the growing season and are officially inspected at least twice for virus diseases, blackleg in addition to varietal purity.

Plants are inspected for aphids and, if an aphid limit is exceeded,are subject to post-harvest tuber screening.

All consignments of tubers are formally examined for rots, imperfections and flaws.

Only seed stocks that meet rigorous standards following crop and tuber inspections are classified as Scottish Pre-basic or Basic seed potatoes.

Seed potatoes are grouped into three different maturities:

- First Early
- Second Early
- Maincrop

Maturity refers to when the final potato crops are ready to be harvested - all kinds are planted at the same time, and grow according to their maturity.

Article Source: GardenGap.com

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JBA are the UK's leading supplier of seed potatoes and offer help and advice on planting potatoes and growing potatoes.