I have planted my potatoes in the last week.
They have been sat in their paper bags open to the light in a tray since then.
I bought 6 lots from the Hulme Garden Centre potato day earlier in the year. I bought 5 of 5 varieties and 6 of Ambo.

I’ve planted orla, cara, golden wonder, ambo, colleen and red emaille in rows on last years pumpkin bed. This was a raised area of lasagna bed that had plenty of organic matter in.

The last ambo has been planted over near some first earlies the far side of my plot. I wanted to try this one in a much clayier area to see how it coped.

Mayan gold is one of the ones we have planted at the community garden

The anya potatoes I was given had started showing leaves above the soil yesterday so I have covered them with some rabbit hay. I’ve mulched other potatoes with grass clippings. I’m doing this because the soil on my plot has a lot of clay and has a tendency to be wet. I’d prepared the ground by digging over and placing a layer of muck on top. I’d put some bark under the muck in one quarter of the potato area to see if that helps.
The addition of mulch raises the soil level and gives the worms plenty of nice room to live in. Mulch protects them from the weather both rain and sun and provides them with organic material to eat!

You don’t even need to put potatoes in the soil – you can plant them the no dig way.


This is a lovely way of planting spuds on brand new ground. It’d be ideal for anyone taking on an allotment at this time of year and wondering how to get the whole plot dug at once.

Really delicious, so order some now! They won’t last long as they’re very popular so if you want some order now!

Fresh Jersey Royal New Potatoes 4lbs (1.8kg) £10.99
Freshly picked Jersey RoyalsThese Jersey Royal New Potatoes are hand planted, grown and picked especially for our customers. They can be roasted or boiled once they arrive – remember to wash off all the dirt, you don’t even have to peel the potatoes! Please note that these are fresh potatoes, not to be mistaken for our seed potato varieties.As we are based in Jersey, home to the famous Jersey Royal Potato – a British favourite, we thought it would be a wonderful idea to be able to offer our customers the opportunity of ordering some of these unique tasting, delicious potatoes to enjoy.

Got a lawn? You could grow potatoes with almost no effort expended at all.
You’ll need some old manure, fertiliser, paper and straw.
You could use old compost – the stuff he throws on looks very dry and powdery.



Very simple and easy to do. Turn your lawn into a potato patch.

Potato Day at Hulme Garden Centre – we went and bought some potatoes

A few of us from our allotment went to Potato Day at the Hulme Garden centre.

There was an excellent display of spuds and a potato expert!

I bought Sarpo – a good all round potato which should be resistant to blight and slugs.
Paru –
and casablanca.

There’s one in Hulme on the 17th Feb I’ll be going to!


But this site lists them across the UK

Potato Days 2013 Potato Days 2013 where you can purchase a wide range of Seed Potatoes and Kitchen Garden Plants.

Like pink fir but smoother so easier to scrub clean!

Potato ‘Ratte’ – 20 tubers £4.99
Second early. ‘A classic second early French variety which has been prized for over 70 years for its tasty tubers with a distinctive chestnut flavour. ‘ Potato ‘Ratte’ produces long, smooth skinned tubers with white skins and yellow, waxy flesh which does not disintegrate during cooking. ‘ Delicious steamed in their skins and eaten hot or cold. ‘ Height and spread: 60cm (24"). ‘

A fab roasting potato you are very unlikely to ever see in shops. A heritage variety!

Potato ‘British Queen’ – 20 tubers £4.99
Second early. ‘This RHS AGM variety is over 100 years old and still highly prized for its yield, shape, floury texture and delicious flavour. ‘ Today, Potato ‘British Queen’ is Ireland’s favourite summer crop. ‘ The oval, white skinned, floury-fleshed tubers make excellent general purpose potatoes and are particularly good for roasting. ‘ Height and spread: 60cm (24"). ‘

Good for mash! Available on its own or as part of a collection!

Potato ‘Salad Blue’ – 10 tubers £4.49
Maincrop. ‘Potato ‘Salad Blue’ is a vigorous maincrop variety that is more productive than ‘Congo’ with attractive blue/ purple flowers. ‘ Contrary to its name, the spectacular blue, floury flesh, of this unusual coloured potato is best suited to baking, roasting, mash, boiling or chips. ‘ Height and spread: 60cm (24"). ‘

Potato ‘Heritage Collection’ – 50 tubers – 10 of each variety £14.99
These five heritage varieties, all dating from before the 1950’s, have survived in enthusiasts’ collections over many years. ‘ T&M has previously sold these as microplants and minitubers, however we are delighted to be able to offer these now as regular seed potatoes. ‘ Height and spread: 60cm (24"). ‘ Collection comprises: Potato ‘Highland Burgundy Red’ (maincrop), Potato ‘Arran Pilot’ (first early), Potato ‘Shetland Black’ (second early), Potato ‘Salad Blue’ (early maincrop) and Potato ‘Belle de Fontenay’ (early maincrop). ‘