Potato Days 2009

Potato days have become very popular in the last few years as more and more people are getting into 'Grow your Own' even if it is just a few potatoes in a pot.
These events are held during February and March and enable you to buy as many or as few seed potatoes as you want, unlike to big store where you often have to purchse 2 or 3 kgs which often go to waste. Potato days also offer a much wider range of varieties and you can choose exactly what suits you in terms of flavour and texture. Yes, potato varieties are very different, some are floury, good for mash or baking, some are waxy, good for boiling and salads. Some have strong flavours, some are very mild almost bland some would say.
There are first earlies, second earlies and maincrop.
This relates to the maturing time of the crop, they are actually planted at more or less the same time.
If you are just growing a few choose first earlies and enjoy 'new potatoes'. Varieites like 'Rocket' and 'Swift' are very quick growing but mild in flavour, Sharpe's Express is a grand old variety from 1900 with a really fine taste, or Foremost from 1954 is still popular for it's flavour.
You will need 1 tuber for a 9 inch pot or 2/3 tubers for a 12/15 inch one. Put a layer of compost in the base, place your tubers on top with shoots pointing up and cover with some compost. As the potatoes grow continue to fill the pot with compost until you reach the top. Details about harvesting the crop will follow.
To purchse potatoes try the Somerset Potato Day at Pylle Village Hall near Shepton Mallet on February 7th or look at the web site www.potato-days.net