Grow Your Own Magazine

I've just got back from my first ever potato day, I went to the one at Ryton, today is for members only and tomorrow (28.1.07) is open to the public.

It was heaving this morning, people where being parked on the grass verge outside for a while, the marque where the potatoes were and the seed swap was also very busy. I quickly discovered it would be better if you took your own shopping bags to carry away your goods, luckily i had one in the car and went back to fetch it.

A marker pen of your own is very useful too, they let you borrow pencils to put the names of your chosen spuds on to the paper bags, but I'm sure you would end up spearing them.

And my main reason for posting this is to warn people going they have already sold out of some varieties, a man told me in the middle of the squash they they wanted to save some stock for tomorrow but were told by the powers that be to put them all out as needed, so they did.

I know that kestrel, Anya, and Charlotte have gone and cannot remember the others, that was at 12.45pm.

Ive spent a few quid on 2 potatoes of several varieties to try and see if i like them, all i need now are lots more big pots.

All the best if anyone else is going.

It was the first time I'd been to Ryton's potato day too, and I must say, very impressed. If anyone gets the chance, well worth going to. As there were only 2 Anya spuds left in the tray when I got there (not long after 10.30), I felt sure they must have put a share of the stock by for tomorrow;but maybe not. There were still quite a few full trays of other varieties though, and a great seed swap too, take bags of your own seed to swap or make a donation and you can help yourself to what's on offer. The people on the seed swap stand are really helpful too.

I'm going tomorrow with the kids. It will be our first potato day as well as the first time at Ryton, sounds like we will have a fantastic time. I'll try and remember to take a shopping bag as well as lots of cash by the sounds of it.

Glad you both had a great day.

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Bex

Ooh, I'm so jealous - I had to go to a wedding today and couldn't make it down there! Not so much for the tatties as I ordered those ages ago, but really wanted to look round the seed swap.

Good luck to anyone braving it tomorrow!

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Kris

I child-proofed my house, but they still manage to get in.

Muddy Musings - a blog

Whereabouts in "southern most yorkshire" are you PD? I lived in Barnsley (Staincross if you know it) for a couple of years when I was first married, then moved to Wakefield for 10 years before moving back to Lancashire. Very happy memories of our time in Yorkshire, very friendly people and a super time had by all. DDL

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Appreciate the little things in life because one day you will realise they are the big things

South of Doncaster, right on the Notts/Lincs border. I can walk from Yorkshire into either of the other counties in under half an hour! I'm originally from Solihull/Bimingham, but love Yorkshire now. Although I did spend several years in Canada. Would dearly love to go back there too!

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Kris

I child-proofed my house, but they still manage to get in.

Muddy Musings - a blog

We went to the Hampshire one in Whitchurch. By the time we got there it had been going 2 1/2 hours so the main crush was over. It had been busy and some varieties were completely sold out. However we enjoyed ourselves and cursed having already bought most of our seed pots. We rather enjoyed the cookery too and Miss E said she had had a good day. We also got onion sets and shallots and I was tempted to buy more beans and peas but resisted. There were quite a lot of seeds to swap and buy. I know where I'll be buying next year.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

always wanted to go to a potato day but OH looks at me like i'm crazy, but one day i hope

My OH was very dubious but humoured me and enjoyed himself. So keep your fingers crossed. And if your OH persists go on your own or find an interested friend to go with.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

Hi everyone,
i got to Ryton at 9.33am and the carpark was already heaving. the queue was out the door. The potato marque was packed.
Bought some Highland Burgandy Red and some Salad Blue for my daughter to have a go at growing as i had already bought my seeds previously.
The seed swap was amazing. I took some seeds to swap and came away with loads. I am posting a thread for advice on some of my newly aquired seeds. Please have a look and give me some advice. Perhaps we should have all wore a bunch of grapes on our lapels to indicate our belonging to the vine.!!
Would have loved to meet up with some fellow grapes for a coffee in the tent.
Ryton Potato day is highly reccommended from me. Even if you have your seeds for this year, i suggest you try and get there for the seed swap.

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Miss E was given a Smile potato which will go in a pot for her to lovingly tend...... or not. Guess who is probably going to be doing the work.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

Yes that will probably happen here too Earthbabe. We got some red and blue tatties. We also got red and blue sweetcorn from the seed swap so will be having some funny colour dinners in the future. Its so good to get the little ones involved though isnt it?!

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I was going to go but went to our local shop instead and got all th e ones I wanted ( apart from some Swift) . And I recon it cost me less than half what I would have paid from the seed catalogues!!.

So the list so far is:

Foremost
Maris peer
Kestrel
Cara
Desiree
and Swift to come.

Plust two lots of peas

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

NTG,
The tubers today were either 16p each for most or 20p for sarpo or Ware potatos. Did you get them cheaper? Where from? Im not too far from you.

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Our sarpos were 22p each, although others were 13p each

It's that north/south thingy again.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

Swings and roundabouts then Earthbabe. Did you get them from ryton?

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No Whitchurch in Hampshire.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

Oh yes, sorry Earthbabe ive just read back to the top of the thread. I see you already said that.
I will wait and buy all my tubers at Ryton next year. Had already bought them before the potato day this year.

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Same here and wish I hadn't. Next year's is a definite must. We met some lovely people too. I might organise some more people next year too, depending on other commitments etc.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

Yeh that would be good. Looks like a few fellow grapes were at Ryton today but I wouldnt have known. May even have got up close and personal with some of them whilst in the potato marque as it was so busy!!

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I went to the Whitchurch one, and was very excited bringing home my little bags of spuds!

I'm still pretty new to this game, and last year ended up with big bags of just 2 types of potato (accent and desiree). Yesterday was great as I managed to get 7 different types (2 first early varieties, 2 second early varieties, 2 maincrop varieties and sarpo) and just got 4 tubers of each.

I didn't manage to find the cooking demos though, which was disappointing. W followed some signs but never really got anywhere!

I also got a few bits in the seed swap, but think I might have been there too early as there looked to be a lot more on the table as I was leaving.

I'll def be going next year!

Michelle : )

It's the coloured potatoes that I really wanted to try this year. I'd already ordered 1kg bags of Foremost, Saxon, Majestic, King Edward and 2.5kg Desiree (then discovered a friend who's a game keeper on a organic estate can get me huge sacks of organic Desiree...) when I found out about the Ryton day.

However will mark next year's on the calendar in big red letters!

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Kris

I child-proofed my house, but they still manage to get in.

Muddy Musings - a blog