Ryton Potato day

[saddad]

Just got back from a trip with DebP...
Very successful for me but the Mayan Gold were not available for Deb..
Got the Anya, Ballydoon, Dunluce, Mimi, Salad Blue, Witchill, Lady Crystl and some shallots and seeds...
;D

[saddad]

[Suzanne]

I got the time wrong - again!! I got there for about 8.50, thinking they would open at 9.30 as usual but it was 10.00am. Was a bit cold and I don't grow that many potatoes.  ::)

However, I did stand behind "Onslow" when he made the opening speech.

[saddad]

I heard the Speech but was stood in the queue in the car park!
;D

[Multiveg]

We weren't lucky enough to park (at first) in the car park - arrived just after 10 and had to park in the field!!! Still, could have been worse, at least OH was able to move the car over to main car park an hour or so later.

[Deb P]

I had a great morning out (thanks to Saddad for lift!), my first proper excursion out since leaving hospital. Really enjoyed it, my 11 year old son came along too as his football was cancelled, he had fun tasting all the organic crisps on offer and eating the cookery demonstration spuds; his favourite bit was being let loose target shooting with a spud gun!!

I got some good swaps at the HSL seed swap, three types of Climbing French Beans, and got some of the potato varieties I was after, Salad Blue and Witchill; apparently Mayan Gold was supposed to be available but was one of a few varirites that did not turn up on the day. Alan Romans was in his usual good form, I couldn't resist a couple of packets of seeds form his stall too....

[Suzanne]

I agree DebP, I enjoyed the other stuff as much as the potatoes. I actually spent more on Alan Romans seeds than I did on potatoes. His half pint of seeds for £2.50 idea was excellent - I wish more people would go back to this way of selling for the "bulk" varieties. He had an excellent range of flower seed as well for 50p a foil.
I also got some good swaps from the HSL store including peacevine toms, polish stringless purple beans and some ofther bits and bobs.
I entered the NFU prize draw for the hamper and they gave me a goody bag with bites and stings first aid kit - I probably look accident prone! And they promised to send me a slug repellant mat for when I plant my potatoes! Can't wait to see what this is.
All in all a good morning.

[Multiveg]

I made a badge a while back which said A4A - shame I didn't wear it!

[DeeBee]

I want to go to a potato day  >:( Stomp foot in manner of small child)

It sounds soooo exciting, how do you find out about these things? (Before they happen!) :)

[George the Pigman]

After spending a large part of the morning trying to tame the wilderness that is our front garden I didn't get there until 3:30pm. Hence no trouble parking but some of the varieties had gone (including Yukon Gold that I particularly wanted) Still plenty of choice though. In particular I was impressed by the range of second earlies. Normally they are rather sparse in the gardening catalogues.
I agree about Alan Roman's seed bargains being excellent value!

[Multiveg]

I want to go to a potato day  >:( Stomp foot in manner of small child)

It sounds soooo exciting, how do you find out about these things? (Before they happen!) :)

There are quite a few around the UK. Some have already been, but some are still yet to be held.
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,37759.0.html has more info.

Some that I posted:
17th Feb at Barrowford Youth and Community Centre near Nelson, Lancashire
23rd Feb Shipley College
24th Feb Holme Community Garden Centre, Manchester
1st March Victoria Hall in Dunblane
2nd March Borders Union Agricultural Society's Exhibition Hall,  Springwood Park, Kelso.

Flowerofshona2007 posted:There is a potatoe day at Stewarts garden centre near Christchurch, Dorset on Sat/sun 16th-17th Febuary 

Amazin said there's one at Buckingham Garden centre 16/17th Feb. http://www.buckingham-nurseries.co.uk/newsletter.html#heading1

Norfolklass posted: the East Anglia potato day will be on Saturday 9th Feb 2008 at Stonham Barns near Ipswich.
here's the website: http://www.eapd.btik.com/p_Home.ikml

[Suzanne]

I made a badge a while back which said A4A - shame I didn't wear it!

Perhaps next year we can all join up in the car park and go as a group? Maybe even get privileged parking.......well maybe not!

[saddad]

Sounds good to me!
;D

[Suzanne]

Okay - I am happy to nip across to Ryton ahead of next years potato day and see if they offer any group passes or special perks. I may just need reminding though, although only just reaching my mid life crisis (although on some days it feels like I have been there forever) I do get forgetful.

I also think there was an A4A stand at Ryton one year because that is where I heard about the site - so they should have heard of us.

[Multiveg]

Okay - I am happy to nip across to Ryton ahead of next years potato day and see if they offer any group passes or special perks. I may just need reminding though, although only just reaching my mid life crisis (although on some days it feels like I have been there forever) I do get forgetful.

I also think there was an A4A stand at Ryton one year because that is where I heard about the site - so they should have heard of us.

One of the members of A4A had a stand selling his labels and string and sundries. I haven't seen him on here for a while. He had a piece of paper on his desk for A4A-ers to sign - a few non-A4A people had also signed it.