Author Topic: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)  (Read 3304 times)

DrJohnH

  • Half Acre
  • ***
  • Posts: 129
Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« on: February 09, 2018, 15:27:33 »
Hi Everyone. 

I have a 2 week window back in the UK coming up next week and want to order some seed potatoes, preferably by mail order. 

I'd like to chit the seed potatoes on a cool windowsill out of direct sunlight for a month and then return to the UK to plant them up in compost in tubs in late March.  My new to me plot is in North Derbyshire and totally unseen at this point (except photos) - hence the tub idea for the first year...

I'd like to try 2 varieties initially (maybe Sarpo Mira or Setanta and Charlotte or Kestrel) in ten 30 litre tubs (i.e. 5 tubs of each), so with 3 spuds per pot, I thinking that I need 15 seed potatoes of each variety.

So...

Do you think the the plan I have proposed above will work?

and

Who does everyone use as a supplier for their seed potatoes?

and

How many kg of seed potatoes would I need?

Thanks,

Dr. John

Plot 18

  • Acre
  • ****
  • Posts: 329
  • Plot in Mid-Kent
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2018, 16:57:47 »
I think you'd be pushed to get delivery within your time scale, most on-line seed merchants take ages to deliver at this time of year :( - best to buy from a garden centre IMO.
Need about 1.5kg of each variety, I reckon - some G/cs sell by the tuber, some by number of tubers, and some by weight (fill a bag), so see what's around that best suits.

Paulh

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 592
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2018, 21:51:51 »
Yes, my 5Kg of Kestrel produced 49 (large) seed potatoes, so 15 potatoes equates to 1.5 kg.


Tee Gee

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 6,926
  • Huddersfield - Light humus rich soil
    • The Gardener's Almanac
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2018, 22:11:54 »
I have always worked on six potatoes to the pound which if my sums are correct fits in with Paul's example.

pumkinlover

  • Guest
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2018, 08:37:55 »
You could try JBA. They supply Chesterfield potato day.


DrJohnH

  • Half Acre
  • ***
  • Posts: 129
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2018, 09:27:12 »
Well, considering the options, I think I might send my long suffering mother to Marple Potato Day tomorrow to pick an order up so long as the snow is not too bad.

http://www.marpleallotments.org.uk/potatoday.html

 :toothy10:

 

Plot22

  • Half Acre
  • ***
  • Posts: 188
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2018, 09:50:19 »
If you are in Derbyshire try Harrisons Garden Centre at Shirebrook. They have loads of choice I now always buy mine from there. Do not look for a phone number they will not reveal what it is for some reason but they have a big choice of potatoes in 2kg bags NOT LOOSE.

cambourne7

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 6,132
  • Growing in the back garden having lost lotty
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2018, 17:34:29 »
We went to the East Anglia Potato day, Harriet very much enjoyed tasting chips made with some which may have swayed her decision on some of the spuds and the inability to find others did also guide our choice. There all still in the car at the moment and am knackered so will give you a list tomorrow :) But there was NO charlotes and NO Sarpo Mira from posts i have read there will not be very many of these about this year.

DrJohnH

  • Half Acre
  • ***
  • Posts: 129
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2018, 17:43:16 »
Thanks for the info- I have set up mum with second, even third alternative choices, just in case:

Potatoes 3 x 1kg Bags         

                        1st Choice   2nd Choice   3rd Choice
1st Kilo Bag   Sarpo Mira   Sarpo Axona   Setanta
2nd Kilo Bag   Charlotte   Wilja   Sarpo Blue Danube
3rd Kilo Bag   Kestrel   Pink Fir Apple   Sarpo Una
         
Shallots 1x 250g Bag         

           1st Choice                   2nd Choice   
250g Bag   Golden Gourmet   Red Sun   
         
Garlic 1 Bulb         
           1st Choice          2nd Choice   
1 Bulb   Solent Wight   Vallelado   
         
Onions 1x 250g Bag         
           1st Choice   2nd Choice   
250g Bag   Sturon   Stuttgarter   

We shall see...  new to all this so we will see how things work out...  It is all in the lap of the gods.

cambourne7

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 6,132
  • Growing in the back garden having lost lotty
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #9 on: February 10, 2018, 18:17:31 »
Most potato days i have been to you buy potatoes by quantity not weight maybe give her an idea of how many you expect as well :)

Thanks for the info- I have set up mum with second, even third alternative choices, just in case:

Potatoes 3 x 1kg Bags         

                        1st Choice   2nd Choice   3rd Choice
1st Kilo Bag   Sarpo Mira   Sarpo Axona   Setanta
2nd Kilo Bag   Charlotte   Wilja   Sarpo Blue Danube
3rd Kilo Bag   Kestrel   Pink Fir Apple   Sarpo Una
         
Shallots 1x 250g Bag         

           1st Choice                   2nd Choice   
250g Bag   Golden Gourmet   Red Sun   
         
Garlic 1 Bulb         
           1st Choice          2nd Choice   
1 Bulb   Solent Wight   Vallelado   
         
Onions 1x 250g Bag         
           1st Choice   2nd Choice   
250g Bag   Sturon   Stuttgarter   

We shall see...  new to all this so we will see how things work out...  It is all in the lap of the gods.

DrJohnH

  • Half Acre
  • ***
  • Posts: 129
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2018, 18:27:09 »

cambourne7

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 6,132
  • Growing in the back garden having lost lotty
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #11 on: February 10, 2018, 18:30:23 »

DrJohnH

  • Half Acre
  • ***
  • Posts: 129
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2018, 17:20:36 »
Managed to get all my first choices- thanks Mum! 

Apparently it was very busy- it's a shame I did not get to go.  Maybe next year...

Paulh

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 592
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #13 on: February 11, 2018, 21:49:18 »
Your Mum is well trained. Do you offer tutorials?

pumkinlover

  • Guest
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #14 on: February 12, 2018, 08:41:14 »
Please check the sarpo Miro there have been problems with it.

saddad

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 17,884
  • Derby, Derbyshire (Strange, but true!)
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #15 on: February 12, 2018, 15:46:14 »
Have I missed the Chesterfield day? Was out at the weekend but couldn't find any Epicure...

cambourne7

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 6,132
  • Growing in the back garden having lost lotty
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #16 on: February 12, 2018, 16:40:49 »
Managed to get all my first choices- thanks Mum! 

Apparently it was very busy- it's a shame I did not get to go.  Maybe next year...

Great News xx

pumkinlover

  • Guest
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #17 on: February 12, 2018, 17:52:06 »
Sorry Saddad yes. They have a good selection left at the community garden and selling off cheap. I can ask if they have Epicure do you still work in the area ?

saddad

  • Hectare
  • *****
  • Posts: 17,884
  • Derby, Derbyshire (Strange, but true!)
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #18 on: February 13, 2018, 14:40:52 »
I'm back in Sheff for 6 weeks from end of Feb... if they have some 3kg would be great but if only 10 tubers I'd still like some....

pumkinlover

  • Guest
Re: Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)
« Reply #19 on: February 13, 2018, 19:56:09 »
Sorry David, if you look on the Transition Chesterfield website it says what is left. No Epicure.

 

anything
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal