For heritage varieties and a huge selection, ‘Potato Days’ up and down the UK are back this year…
Gardeners up and down the UK organise ‘Potato Days’ where you can buy a range of seed potatoes – way more than those seen in most garden centres – ranging from heritage potatoes with unique properties to up to date tubers.
On hand at most of these events are experts to help you choose the best for your situation. You can normally buy by the tuber, so these events are perfect for those with smaller plots, or those who want to grow potatoes in a sack or tub. However, they often work out cheaper for those with larger plots too.
The East Anglia Potato Day is one of the longest running. It started in 1996 and is organised and run by volunteers from three organic gardening groups: the Norfolk Organic Group, the Suffolk Organic Gardeners and Ipswich Organic Gardeners Group. They have a staggering number of varieties of seed potatoes and are sold as individual tubers. Around 25% are organic. This year’s event will be held on 11th February 2023, at Otley College, part of Suffolk New College. This will be the first time at Otley, and a return to the public after previous cancellations due to coronavirus. They say: “Prices to buy these potatoes have gone up in three years, particularly this year just gone. So we have had to up our prices too. Most will be 20p a tuber, some will be 30p because they have been more expensive to buy. Potato Day is now 28 years old and it began then at 10p a tuber, so we are not doing too badly!”
Transition Chesterfield are in their 15th year with their Potato Day which has become an annual event. There are different varieties of premium Scottish seed potatoes supplied by Jamieson Brothers of Annan (JBA), plus onion sets, shallots, garlic bulbs, and many different varieties of pea and bean seeds. They have a pop up shop on 28th January where they will also be selling a much greater range of Green manures from a stand run by Inspire Community Garden, with advice available. The range will include Grazing Rye, Crimson Clover, Field Beans, Tares, Fodder Radish, Trefoil & White Clover. They purchase these at trade prices so that they can provide them for the best possible price while supporting various organisations. Transition Chesterfield administers all the ordering for Transition Loughborough too. This year Transition Buxton are organising a new collection point in Buxton as well.
Why not help with their Potato Day and other greenfingered events? https:// transitionchesterfield.org.uk/ about-potato-day/
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