Seed Potato Suppliers (Mail order)

[DrJohnH]

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

[DrJohnH]

[Plot 18]

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]

Yes, my 5Kg of Kestrel produced 49 (large) seed potatoes, so 15 potatoes equates to 1.5 kg.

[Tee Gee]

I have always worked on six potatoes to the pound which if my sums are correct fits in with Paul's example.

[pumkinlover]

You could try JBA. They supply Chesterfield potato day.

[DrJohnH]

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

[Plot22]

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]

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]

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]

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]

This is the event

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

We will see...

[cambourne7]

Ah well thats ok then :)

This is the event

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

We will see...

[DrJohnH]

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]

Your Mum is well trained. Do you offer tutorials?

[pumkinlover]

Please check the sarpo Miro there have been problems with it.

[saddad]

Have I missed the Chesterfield day? Was out at the weekend but couldn't find any Epicure...

[cambourne7]

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]

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]

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]

Sorry David, if you look on the Transition Chesterfield website it says what is left. No Epicure.