Allotments 4 All

Hi All,
I was at the potato day in Cheltenham today and could choose from about 100 different varieties. It was like the first day at the January sales. Its on there again tomorrow and well worth a visit for anyone nearby. See the following link for details.

http://www.thewhitchurchweb.org/potatoday/potatodays.htm

I purchased 20 tubers of 6 different varieties.
The varieties I went for were:
Orla,
British Queen,
Maxine,
Moulin Rouge,
Record,
Victoria.

I would recommend this or any of the other potato events if you want a great choice.
Regards,
Thomas

I'd love to go to a potato day cos this is the one thing I haven't decided on which varieties to try yet, but I need a potato day in Lincolnshire and haven't got a clue where to go about finding one.  Any ideas? (P.S. sorry for hijacking your thread...) x

I am going to a smaller one next weekend. Advertises a minimum of 25 varieties only. Got 4 already but will get another 1 or 2 max from there.

I went to the Suffolk Poato Day last year - talk about being like a child in a sweet shop! This year it is on Feb 10th - it was the first date that went onto the new calendar. Sad I know, but I am sure you will all understand.

i am off to the one at ryton next sunday :-)

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/news/news_topic.php?id=300

and I'm there with a friend next Sat Louise....
;D

i am not a memeber so am going sunday  ;D

and yes i am posting this 3.30am CANT SLEEP !

There's not one near me that I can see. :'( ;D ;D ;D

Quote from: cambourne7 on January 20, 2007, 23:13:58
i am off to the one at ryton next sunday :-)

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/news/news_topic.php?id=300

Make sure you get there early - popular varieties can sell out within the first hour

Phil

Anyone from the Christchurch or Bournelmouth area going on Saturday, 27th or Sunday 28th who would like to have some company and share travel costs.  Also I do not know my way around too much but do make a good navigator if I have the correct postal codes (thanks to AA website journey planner)  my friend who was going to be coming with has pulled out at thelast moment and I do not want to goby myself.

PM me if anyone is interested

Jitterbug

Quote from: philcooper on January 21, 2007, 14:37:50

Quote from: cambourne7 on January 20, 2007, 23:13:58
i am off to the one at ryton next sunday :-)

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/news/news_topic.php?id=300

Make sure you get there early - popular varieties can sell out within the first hour

Phil

Good point i was going to head there for 11-12 but if there going to be gone i will have to get my finger out!
Although entrance fee of £10 for the 2 of us, is it really good value for money?

I would check out the East Anglian day - if they have the variety you want it would be cheaper!!!

Phil

Quote from: Jitterbug on January 22, 2007, 20:56:17
.......I do not know my way around too much .......
Jitterbug

Just drive north on the A34 from M3 Junction 9 (signed Newbury) after 10 miles (in the roadworks) turn left to Whitchurch - follow the big yellow Potato Day signs to the venue (approx ¾ mile from A34)

Phil

Quote from: philcooper on January 22, 2007, 21:32:05
I would check out the East Anglian day - if they have the variety you want it would be cheaper!!!

Phil

Hi Guys,

Not up to going to ryton so i have got the list of whats at the east anglian day which is only £1.50 to get into and you get a free book and there is a guest speaker i am intrested in hearing from so i think i will pop up there.

Here is the list

1st early
Accent
Amorosa
Arran Pilot
Annabelle
Colleen
Duke of York
Dunluce
Epicure
Foremost
Home Guard
Karlena
Lady Christl
Maris Bard
Mimi
Orla
Pentland Javelin
Premiere
Red Duke of York
Riviera
Rocket
Sharpes Express
Swift
Ulster Chieftain
Ulster Prince
Ulster Sceptre
Vales Emerald
Vanessa
Winston

2nd early
Anya
Balmoral
Bambino
British Queen
Cabaret
Carlingford
Catriona
Charlotte
Cosmos
Edzell Blue
Estima
Juliette
Kestrel
Marfona
Maris Peer
Milva
Nadine
Osprey
Pixie
Royal Kidney
Saxon
Smile
Virgo
Wilja
Yukon Gold

Early main
Ambo
Cultra
Desiree
Harlequin
Harmony
International Kidney
Isle of Jura
King Edward
Lady Balfour
Majestic
Malin
Maris Piper
Markies
Maxine
Melody
Merlin
Moulin Rouge
Nicola
Pentland Crown
Pentland Dell
Pentland Squire
Picasso
Record
Red King Edward
Remarka
Robinta
Romano
Sante
Shannon
Stemster
Vales Sovereign
Victoria

Late main
Arran Victory
Cara
Druid
Dunbar Standard
Golden Wonder
Kerr's Pink
Pink Fir Apple
Valor
Verity

Hungarian
Sharpo Axona
Sharpo Mira

They also have some extra variatys in case some sell out :-)

Cambourne7

That's a good list Louise... I think the entry at Ryton is overpriced but you do get to see the whole Gardens as well.... still quite a lot to see even at the end of Jan... unless we have a foot of snow soon!
;D

yes i would want to go around the gardens but just not up to it.

I think the local one is probably better as i will get to meet local suppliers just have to decide what spuds i want to plant.  ;D

No potato days for me this year, Ryton was very good last year and they didn't run out of anything by the time I got there at about mid-day. I found somewhere local to buy seed spuds loose and I don't want to go as mad as I did last year anyhow

Quote from: cambourne7 on January 24, 2007, 19:49:01
......i will get to meet local suppliers just have to decide what spuds i want to plant.  ;D

'fraid not C7, but they will have an expert on hand.

The nearest the seed comes from is Scotland, the rest from Europe.

WCF-Phoenix is the main Scottish supplier to horticulture, see their site at www.wcf-phoenix.co.uk, their list looks very similar to that offered in East Anglia. It will be the same at Ryton. The European grown ones come come from a variety of locations in Europe and some days (like Hampshire) have them as well as specialist like Tuckers.

Phil

BTW The Sárpo (pronounced Sharpo) seed comes from Scotland, the breeders the Sárvo family come from Hungary (Sárpo = Sárvo Potato - they are both maincrop and almost 100% blight resistant

I had to brag.  After much nagging DH,  he agreed to take me to the Hampshire Potato Day in Whitchurch and I managed  to get most of the potatoes that I had chosen plus a few more.  As a thank you I took him and Terrence to lunch at the pub across from the Testbourne Centre.

The Crossed out potatoes are the ones I could not get.  First Earlies â€" Epicure (Christchurch variety), Duke of York and Rocket.  Second Earlies â€" Nadine, Charlotte and Yukon and Late Main â€" Ambo,  Kerrs Pink, Pink Fir Apple and Cara and Bambino.  Also got some Valour which was recommended and I am told will go right through until a Christmas harvest â€" so might plant these in the Potato Barrel to make it easier to harvest them in the cold in December.  Also got some Moulin Rouge which is a cross between Desiree and Pink Fir and is a new variety from Holland.  Terrence was given 3 “Smile” and one “Blue Moon” potatoes that I will help him plant and grow.   When I got home and could not wait to get chitting.  Have now put them all safely into their temporary home to happily chit away!  Gosh I only hope I got enough space to plant them all :o :o ;D

Also got some elephant garlic â€" 1 clove 50p!!  Did a good seed swap at the HRDA table and got quite a nice selection of  Dwarf French Beans, Tendergreen, The Prince, Magpie, Stangen Blaukhulside, Vermont Cranberry, Climbing French Bean “Fabes de la Granja Asturiana, Ryders Top O’ the Pole,  Red and White, Parsnip â€" The Student some Cardoon and some Forget Me Nots.  Quite a good swap considering I did not buy one of the packets of seeds that I swapped for.  Other seeds purchased for stock were Peas â€" Ambassador, Sugar Ann and Alderman and a small amount of Runner Bean “Red Rum”. 

So all in all a most productive day and I would recommend it to all.

Jitterbug

wow jitterbug, what a day!

I am still trying to work out what variatys i want to get.