I prefer Ronnigers. They have good quality products and excellent variety selections. They've always done well for me. They also sell onions.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ronnigers

Irish Eyes is also another place where you can find them.

If you have feed and seed stores near you, or a good nursery, you can probably find some locally and most of the time they will probably be varieties that are recommended to do well in your area. Their prices may be comparable or less and no shipping.

I would think that you could have one 8' row in that space. You wouild normally want them a minimum of 6 inches apart, a foot would be better so that would give you either 16 or 32 plants. The smallest order of seed potatoes would probably have that many eyes on them. You cut the eyes off with a plug of the potato on it and let them cure or heal over for a day or so before planting. There are some good threads on here about how to plant, raise, harvest and save potatoes.
Good luck with your efforts.
Bill P.

I've never seen seed potatoes at Walmart, but who knows?

I used Potatogarden.com last year (formerly milkranch.com) and was satisfied with them. They'll sell half-pound increments (just ask), which is great since I have a small garden. But if you buy through them, don't bother with the website and call instead. The website is always riddled with problems.

I'm very happy with Fedco in Maine (find them at www.gardenwatchdog.com). An incredible array of varieties with mouthwatering descriptions.
However, for starters you might want to consider organically grown potatoes from a health food store or even a super market (organically grown so they aren't treated to prevent sprouting). This is the least expensive option and you can find Yukon Gold and some other common varieties very easily.

Pinetree seed co has a good variety at hard to beat prices

I abandoned buying certified seed potatos a few years ago -- the number of places offering them locally diminshed dramatically as my semi-rural area rapidly transformed into suburbia. Mail order seed potatos are just too expensive, and often come half-rotten unless you are very careful about where you order. Around early April each year, I begin to search out grocery store potatos of the varieties I want -- yukon gold, russet, red varieties -- which are beging to sprout slightly in the eyes. This is generally not hard to do at all. Some of the more upscale stores and specialty produce markets even carry exotic varieties, like purple fleshed or fingerlings. I just plant these, and have always had good results. I've never had any problems with any types of diseases or rotting that I didn't also have at times with certified seed potatos.

Also, garlic, shallots, horseradish, ginger root, sweet potatos, jerusalem artichokes, lemon grass, taro, water cress -- there are a lot of things which can be planted from the grocery store. Some of them just take a little pre-planning -- sweet potatos often take some time being "sweated" in moist peat in a warm place before they'll shake off the effects of the growth regulators used to inhibt sprouting.

We routinely plant potatoes late Feb. to early March here and right at that time all the local grocery stores, hardware, nurseries, co-ops, farm stores, you-name-it, yes, even Walmart and Home Depot stock many varieties of seed potatoes. The advantage is varieties proven for your area and you get to pick out the amount, type, and quality of the ones you want. Local is far preferable over mail-order IMO.

Good luck.

Dave

If it's exotic finerlings or non commercial varieties you want, you may have to send away for them. For the most part I buy a 50 pound sack of certified from the local Rural King store for 9 or 10 dollars...once for half price.

Hi,

I just got my fall potatoes from Irish Eyes and Ronninger's both were delivered in a timely manner and the potatoes look great!! I plant in December here in Virginia. The varieties I like are never available locally so had to mail order. Planting Maris Piper (frying) Bintje (frying) Yukon Gold (baking, frying, all purpose) and All Blue (grandson wants blue potato).

You can call them and get a catalog or go to their websites and look around for the type you want.

DL

I highly recommend Milk Ranch Specialty Potatoes. They are a small, family owned and operated outfit in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. If you want excellent quality from people who take spuds seriously, they are an excellent choice. They produce and ship there product, no middleman like many of the others. I used to work with them and have personally toured their facilities. This is not an advertisement, just professional experience.

Here is a link that might be useful: Milk Ranch Specialty Potatoes

Which places sell small amounts of seed potatoes? I have a small garden, space for maybe 15-20 potato plants at most, and I'd like to try at least 2-3 different varieties. This year will only be my third year gardening, and I'm still experimenting with which types like my yard best.

All of the listed places sell small amounts. I only got a very small amount. BTW Milk Ranch and Ronninger's are the same people now. Milk Ranch changed their name to PotatoGarden.com

Here is a link that might be useful: Milk Ranch now DBA Potato Garden

Wood Prairie Farm up in Maine. Their seed potatoes are both certified and organic. I've had excellent harvests for 8 years of buying from them.

Here is a link that might be useful: good source of seed potatoes