Allotments 4 All

I know there are plenty of seed potatoes available now, but if they are not to be planted until March/April, is it better to leave the ordering until a bit later, or will the suppliers run out? I'm not going to bother chitting this year and haven'e got anywhere ideal to store them before planting. Has anyone had experience of leaving it too late?

Caroline, my only experience has been leaving it too late - and then not being able to get what I wanted. But I buy from a local supplier, rather than through the post, so I'll be getting mine as soon as his sign goes up. Was about the 3rd week in Jan last year.

I have ordered mine through our allotment association out of convenience. Prior to this I used to get mine from a gardening stall at our local market. Alternatives have been the garden centres at local retail parks eg B&Q. Whilst choice may be limited later on, I have never known them to run out, I have always seen split bags or chitted tubers which are considered undesirable to sell. One plotholder on our site who has limited income, always gets his spuds this way.

I have no other experience of 'ordering' potatoes.

I'll do my own collection after Potato Day 26th Jan...
;D

I've left some earlies till late before and they never grew as large as they should. Charlottes I believe it was

Look at this website for some interesting varieties.

http://www.heritage-potatoes.co.uk/index.php

Just been told our lottie shop is getting all the spuds in tomorrow. They will be sorted and on the shelf for sale at the weekend.

I'll really need to start thinking of what type to grow.

???

I am gonna try these spuds this  year. All new for me except 2nd earlies:

first early: Duke of York or Epicure

second early: Kestrel - Always works for me

Maincrop: Desiree & possibly Cara(This is a late maturing main crop that   stores well)

QuoteLook at this website for some interesting varieties.

http://www.heritage-potatoes.co.uk/index.php

Unbelievable prices, £10 for 2.5 kilos, minimum order 5 kilos, I can hear my bank account wimpering at the idea of it

They sell Yukon Gold as a maincrop when it's clearly a 2nd early and they have Salad Blue as an early which should be a main???

All looks a bit dodgy to me, Tiptoe Farm? hmm :-\

Our seed potatoes are on sale in our allotment store in February the varieties this year are Wilja S/E  Premiere F/E  Nadine S/E Kestrel S/E and Cara L/M

The varietyies i will be planting myself are
Kestrel S/E
Nadine S/E
Monalisa S/E
Glamis E/M
Cultra E/M
Sherine S/E
I plant two rows of each.

Alan Romans say mine should be arriving within the week:

Have kept with Pink Firs, dropped Pentland Javelin, and trying International Kidney (JerseyRoyals?), Duke of York Red, Milva and  Belle de Fontenay for the first time.

The allotment shop doesn't get seed potatoes in and neighbouring allotments don't seem to be big on spuds so having to conduct my own trials :)

Also going to try some in tubs as short on space in the allotment

The spuds i will be putting in are,
   Swift
   Kestrel
   Picasso
   Sante(if can get)
   Ratte

  oooh my poor back. ;)

I keep flicking past the potato pages in the catalogues i've been looking at, as i've absolutely no idea what on earth to choose or where to start  :(

Quote from: kitten on January 04, 2007, 15:42:33
I keep flicking past the potato pages in the catalogues I've been looking at, as I've absolutely no idea what on earth to choose or where to start  :(

Ask other plot holders on your site what they plant and what they have trouble with. It will give you a start & do for this year. Then maybe become more adventurous next. At least you will get some spuds in. Just put in one bag of however many varieties you have room to try. Next year if you don't lie em don't use em again.

Hmmm, that's a good idea actually kt, thanks, and it might keep the 'neighbours' off our backs a bit if we appear to be taking their advice on something. I've got a feeling they're going to scoff when we start doing things organically lol!  :o

Let them Scoff Kitten.... do it the right way!

Having been given Alan Romans' potato book for Christmas, I want to try them all, but will have to control myself!

I ordered mine from Alan Romans in November. Expect they'll be arriving soon. We're lining up the eggboxes. :P
kestrel, Picasso, Roseval, PFA,Lady Christl, Milva, Mimi and Red Duke of York.

Some ( in bold) I grew last year and liked. The rest have been recommended here so I'm going to try them out. I've got smallish quantities of each sort but lots of different sorts.

Quote from: caroline7758 on January 03, 2007, 09:08:32
is it better to leave the ordering until a bit later, or will the suppliers run out?

If you can't get to a Potato Day get/order them as soon as you can, that way you will get what you want. Store them in as cool a temperature (but above freezing) as you can.

If visiting a potato day get there early as almost all of them are trying to sell all their stock on the day! The exception is the Hampshire Day because the stock is meant to keep 2 garden centres going for at least a month after the days (27-8 Jan) - even then we have sold out of the odd variety when there is a "run" on them.

See http://thewhitchurchweb.org/potatoday

Phil