Yes, you are definitely being too hard on yourself. Buying certified seed only guarantees that the potatoes themselves aren't already contaminated with the fungal spores for various potato diseases. It is absolutely no guarantee that the plants grown from them won't get such a disease. The spores for these diseases are widespread in the environment -- whether a plant gets them or not depends more on its health, IMO, than on exposure, since they're all pretty much exposed most of the time from what I can tell. When you think about it, these spores must be everywhere -- each infected plant can generate millions to billions of spores, and these spores can travel for thousands of miles on the winds. You could have planted certified seed and still had the same results, especially in such a wet, cool, and humid year as we've had here in the midwest. I've had good crops from certified seed and good crops from grocery store potatoes, and bad crops from each as well, depending upon the year and the weather. The main disadvantage of using grocery store potatoes is, as you stated above, the sprout inhibitors used on them. I've planted ones before which looked all ready to sprout, and had them sit for months without growing. Once they get to the point they are well-sprouted, with about 1/2 inch or longer shoots, then they'll grow for sure, in my experience.

Check out Ronnigers in CO. http://www.ronnigers.com/ But for Feb. shipping, because of the change of freezing during shipping, I find that local sources are best. You can usually get at least Red Pontiac, Kennebec, Yukon Gold, and various russet types locally via farm and feed stores. For the more unusual varieties you may just have to accept later delivery since they won't gurantee they will be safe to ship early on. Dave

You can get seed potatoes from Athens Seed, they supply most of the seed potato sources in Georgia. They will not have all those you are looking for. You can also ask when Southern Exposure Seed Exchange ships potatoes - they will have at least a few types. Don't forget to look outside of Georgia to see if anyone else has them (I don't know they do) check on Arkansas, Louisianna and Alabama to see if anyone can match your shipping dates.

I'm glad you all liked the cards! As usual, I had lots of fun making them! And now for some interesting news: In my mail today, there was a returned card and seeds that I had sent to Connie/wildhairedmavens, in the Feb. Swap. Can you imagine how I felt? "Oh no, now what?" was the least of it! But then I got to thinking and I was sure that Connie had posted she received. SO......I checked back in here and yes, she did receive the cards and seeds, the SECOND TIME I sent out! Talk about relief! And it's really strange that the address they couldn't send this card to was the same address I sent the second card to. Oh the mysterious ways of the US Postal System! I guess that all's well that ends well! have a great day, All! Shirley!