seed potato order, long wait?

[chilli_grower]

Some of you might already know that I recently ordered some maincrop seed potatoes from t and m.

Middle of last week I think I placed the order.

It seems a little strange that delivery is any time between now and end of April.

I was hoping to have planted them by mid April at the latest

Any idea why these places make us wait so long??

[Kristen]

Any idea why these places make us wait so long??

I would imagine that T&M get deliveries from a supplier who has them nicely in cold storage, so T&M don't have to worry about that. Thus T&M wait until they have enough orders (or more likely they have scheduled deliveries from the suppliers) and then they ship them to the punters

I prefer to get my seed potatoes from a specialist - because I know that they curtail shipments if cold weather threatens that the packet will be frosted in transit (AFAIK none of the big seed companies do that). Clearly that hasn't been a problem this year!!

There have also been seasons when the big seed companies have shipped the seed potato orders in early December - better, I think, that the growers with cool storage store them until the punter is actually wanting to start them chitting ...

If you only want a few, and they are available "loose" in your local garden centre, that might be the best place to get them - instant gratification and you can pick over what is there to choose the ones you like the size of - and choose a few-of-this and some-of-that if you wanted to try different varieties

But using T&M vouchers, and then also using Cash Savers type site to get points, recycling those into Tesco Vouchers and cashing those in for T & M vouchers can be a very cheap way of shopping at T&M Sadly I don't have to time to acquire the skill for that, but folk that I know that do shop very cheaply indeed at T&M

Sorry ... I'm rabbiting on - probably none of that is relevant to you.

[darcyvuqua]

My seed potatoes were the same mate told end of April got them two weeks later that was mid feb!

[chilli_grower]

ahh ok , well hopefully they will arrive before easter!

[chris]

I usually give them a bell and they give me dispatch dates.. CG - next year check Pughs - they usually have some decent varieties in, loose too and you can mix&match. The only ones I buy off the internet are the ones I can't get from shops around me, and they tend to be 'special' ones

[chilli_grower]

I might well end up going to pugh's if I have not received them in a timely manner!

[veggiechicken]

Do you want your King Ted's back CG?

[horticultural_hobbit]

I generally half check the despatch dates, place order and then get pleasantly surprised when the Postman huffs and puff bringing them. Had thought that orders get despatched in order of when the order was made. Have had that with onions in the past; case of ordered late, got them late. of course, I then get told off that the spuds are cluttering the place.

[chilli_grower]

no VC, they are for you!!!!

I will wait for the apparent 'blight resistant' ones to arrive!

I am very impatient....

[veggiechicken]

I'll plant them immediately, just in case you change your mind Thanks CG

[noviceveggrower]

I usually give them a bell and they give me dispatch dates.. CG - next year check Pughs - they usually have some decent varieties in, loose too and you can mix&match. The only ones I buy off the internet are the ones I can't get from shops around me, and they tend to be 'special' ones

Hi, who are Pughs? Looked on line but only find a funeral directors and an auction house.

[veggiechicken]

Pughs are our local family-owned garden centre - local if you live in Cardiff

[noviceveggrower]

Oh I see. Afraid not my local. I have Botany Bay though.

[veggiechicken]

You're in Oz!!!

[noviceveggrower]

Nah cold and wet midlands. Botany Bay is my nearest garden centre in Astwood Bank.