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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: mpdjulie on January 23, 2010, 12:38:07

Title: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: mpdjulie on January 23, 2010, 12:38:07
Is anybody going to the "Open to Public" potato day at Ryton on the 31st January?
It would be great to put a face to the name.
:D :D :D
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: betula on January 23, 2010, 12:39:30
Never again......what a scrum. ;D
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: saddad on January 23, 2010, 13:19:09
I'm going, but on the Saturday (Members)  :-X
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Deb P on January 24, 2010, 10:57:31
Go prepared with a small child to worm their way through the crowd to get your choice picks, and take some labels ready to stick on the paper bags so you don't do what I have done in the past and get home unable to read your own scrawl.... ::)
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Multiveg on January 26, 2010, 11:28:43
Quote from: Deb P on January 24, 2010, 10:57:31
Go prepared with a small child to worm their way through the crowd to get your choice picks, and take some labels ready to stick on the paper bags so you don't do what I have done in the past and get home unable to read your own scrawl.... ::)

First time we went with small person (maybe when he was 3 or 4?), I let him pick some seed spuds. When we got home, he had picked up a stone (it did look a bit like a seed potato) and we had paid 13p for it!
Perhaps we'll see you there.
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: greenfists on January 26, 2010, 13:27:06
I'm a member so we may well be going. Potatoes don't do well here for some reason so if I can I'll try to get some tips.
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Deb P on January 26, 2010, 14:20:10
Quote from: Multiveg on January 26, 2010, 11:28:43
Quote from: Deb P on January 24, 2010, 10:57:31
Go prepared with a small child to worm their way through the crowd to get your choice picks, and take some labels ready to stick on the paper bags so you don't do what I have done in the past and get home unable to read your own scrawl.... ::)

First time we went with small person (maybe when he was 3 or 4?), I let him pick some seed spuds. When we got home, he had picked up a stone (it did look a bit like a seed potato) and we had paid 13p for it!
Perhaps we'll see you there.

Oh bless! ;D

I will be going on the Saturday with Saddad and his OH, we will have to have some sort of A4A recognition sign!  ;D
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: saddad on January 26, 2010, 15:57:26
How about a "shed" badge ...  ;D
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Deb P on January 26, 2010, 16:29:16
Ahem, I do happen to have one of those about my person.......... ;D
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Multiveg on January 27, 2010, 14:41:57
I'll probably (if I can remember to put them on) be wearing various pin badges, mainly RSPB ones, but I also have a Dangermouse one. Perhaps we'll have one of those jute supermarket bags to put all the spuds in! If you hear any strange language spoken (i.e. Welsh), that'll be son/OH.

Have you two got a list of potatoes you want to get?
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: saddad on January 27, 2010, 19:53:57
I have but I also like to look out for "new" ones which gets harder each time...  :)
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Tattieman on January 27, 2010, 22:01:32
Joseph McKeen will be down to Coventry this weekend. He is from just along the road from me and is taking potatoes down. Can you all just go up to him and say Iain from JBA says hello Joseph. He will get a huge surprise at that. ;D
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Spudbash on January 28, 2010, 10:51:21
I'm off to the Whitchurch event on Saturday - that's Whitchurch in Hampshire, by the way. I've been to this event several times and it's brilliant for buying small numbers of seed potatoes so that you can trial them. I love trying new varieties and seeing how they cook up, but I've got very little space for spuds in the garden, so it's ideal for me. There are interesting talks, stalls etc, too and the event is on on Sunday, too.

If any of you go along, come and say hello: I'll be wearing my bright orange, red and pink striped scarf. You might want to bring your sunglasses...    ;D
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Multiveg on January 29, 2010, 12:16:55
Quote from: Multiveg on January 27, 2010, 14:41:57
I'll probably (if I can remember to put them on) be wearing various pin badges, mainly RSPB ones, but I also have a Dangermouse one. Perhaps we'll have one of those jute supermarket bags to put all the spuds in! If you hear any strange language spoken (i.e. Welsh), that'll be son/OH.

Have you two got a list of potatoes you want to get?

I might also wear my lovely strawberry wellies. Wonder what'll be like this time - one time, it was worse than the Harrods sale!!
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: markp2511 on January 29, 2010, 17:16:30
I'll be going on the Saturday Julie - maybe we could meet up.....you gonna wear a red or white carnation?   ;)
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: asbean on January 29, 2010, 18:36:54
Going to Whitchurch tomorrow probably 1130-1200 (Saturday).  I'll look out for you, Spudbash  :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: mpdjulie on January 29, 2010, 19:28:43
Quote from: markp2511 on January 29, 2010, 17:16:30
I'll be going on the Saturday Julie - maybe we could meet up.....you gonna wear a red or white carnation?   ;)

HAHAHA !!!
My husband having a little joke
:D ;D :D
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: saddad on January 30, 2010, 09:07:43
Just having a coffee then going to get DebP...  :)

OH says I'll be carrying an "Abbot Nutrition" Hessian Bag...  ::)
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: asbean on January 30, 2010, 13:29:49
Just got back from Whitchurch with Swift, Ratte, Yukon Gold, Home Guard, Int'l Kidney, Annabelle, Majestic, Pompadour and Ingrid.  95 in total.

Haven't tried the last four before, but all the others are old favourites.  The only one we wanted and they didn't have was Belle de Fontenay.

[attachment=1]
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: saddad on January 30, 2010, 13:42:21
Snap... I got 95 too... but at Ryton. They did have BF and BF15....  :-\
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Unwashed on January 30, 2010, 14:12:10
Didn't see you there asbean - but then I wouldn't recognise you if I did!  I showed some restraint - two bags of Kestrel and two bags of Rocket with the usual onions, shallots, peas, and beans.  Tea and cake was disappointingly expensive this year.

(http://www.emilyware.co.uk/wcas/images/stories/articles/spudsout.jpg)
This is me and my mates getting our spuds out for the camera.
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: saddad on January 30, 2010, 14:29:05
Now Kestrel had actually sold out at Ryton...  :-\
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Deb P on January 30, 2010, 15:27:06
I thought I was pretty restrained....I bought  Anya, Annabelle, Charlotte, Mayan Gold, International Kidney, Winston, Witchill, Maris Peer, Edzell Blue...and one I've forgotton! 96 in total, that is my lot!

Also got some shallots from the HSL 'seed swap' area and .....er......a packet of melon seeds (not that I'm going to try growing them again honest.....)  ::)

Also met Multiveg and had a natter, didn't spot anyone else! ;D
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Unwashed on January 30, 2010, 18:41:32
My mate wanted Witchill (that's Snowdrop, right?) but we didn't have them at Whitchurch.  Plenty of Kestrel though. ;)
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Tattieman on January 30, 2010, 18:45:58
I am going to Gordale tomorrow with some more spuds as they have ran out today. If I had time I would have taken some Kestrel down to the Ryton event but I have promised the kids I will take them to Chester zoo.
Sounds like everyone has had a good time so far.
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Multiveg on January 30, 2010, 21:11:04
Quote from: saddad on January 30, 2010, 14:29:05
Now Kestrel had actually sold out at Ryton...  :-\

We got Kestrel! Well, I think they are Kestrel - my son was in charge of getting the potatoes (I had written the name and quantity I wanted on the bags). Just going to have a look at the haul now.
We had 98, but then darling son wanted to make it up to 100 - he chose Rudolph.

It was nice to have a little natter and to met some more A4A-ers. I have met two others previously (one hasn't visited here for ages, and the other we all miss...)

Got interviewed today too - BBC Radio 4's The Food Programme were out and about interviewing people at the seed swap.
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Deb P on January 31, 2010, 00:03:22
Quote from: Unwashed on January 30, 2010, 18:41:32
My mate wanted Witchill (that's Snowdrop, right?) but we didn't have them at Whitchurch.  Plenty of Kestrel though. ;)

Yes that is Snowdrop. I grew them two years ago and thought they had a superb flavour, so glad I could get some more today. The other variety I bought was Kerrs Pink...new for me.
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: lolabelle on January 31, 2010, 12:36:19
just back from Ryton   no scum, very quite,  disappointed no bluebelle or belle de fontinay or Mayan Twilight

bought casablanca, winston ,fortyfold, salad blue, yukon gold and whithill and various french bean seeds from seed swop
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: saddad on January 31, 2010, 15:14:23
Glad you had a good time Lolabelle  :)
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: lolabelle on January 31, 2010, 15:31:48
no flashing speed cameras for you this time Saddad??
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: saddad on January 31, 2010, 15:53:14
No, OH came with me and kept me under control...  ;D
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: lolabelle on January 31, 2010, 18:19:20
please to hear she was able to restrain you in the car if not buying the spuds  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: Spudbash on February 01, 2010, 11:29:37
Sorry to miss my fellow A4A-ers at Whitchurch - you were probably in the checkout queue with me!

asbean - if you can't find Belle de Fontenay, go for BF15 instead - they're practically the same, but BF15 is a second early, rather than an early maincrop.    ;D

Title: Re: Coventry Potato Day
Post by: asbean on February 01, 2010, 13:01:25
There seem to have been a few of us there.  Sorry to have missed everyone, we bumped into a couple of people we only bump into at Whitchurch.  Never see them from one end of the year to the next.

Giving Belles a miss this year  :'( :'( :'(