Potato Days

15 years ago, as part of the HDRA’s (now Garden Organic) commitment to biodiversity, the first Potato Day was held, the brainchild of Jackie Gear MBE. It has now grown to a major event attracting thousands of visitors to Ryton. As many varieties as possible (130 this year) are available by the tuber for those who want to try some of the older (or newer varieties). To make the event a “day” advice, talks on potato culture, cookery demonstrations and potato based food is also included. For HDRA members entry is free on the first day.

Several local organic groups (and latterly allotments, other gardening groups and garden centres) have picked up on the idea and in 2011 we know of those below.

Entries in black are the dates in 2011, those in green are the dates for this year, they will be updated as soon as the information becomes available
If you know of more please let Phil Cooper know

Red* indicates that a Garden Organic (HDRA) Group is organising or supporting the event

2011 Potato Events

16 Jan 2011 (Start)	Berkshire	Charlton Park Garden Centre, Wantage. ~ 150 varieties by the individual tuber and 2.5kg bags. List of varieties Expert advice. More information on 01235 772700.
Sat 22 Jan 2011	Wiltshire	3rd Annual Potato Day for Swindon Allotment Society. Gorse Hill Community Centre, Chapel Street, Swindon SN2 8DA 11.00am – 2.00pm. 100 plus varieties of potatoes for sale by the single tuber, onion sets, shallots, garlic, Heritage Seeds, fruit trees, rhubarb crowns and much more. More information call 01749 860039 or www.potato-days.net
Sun 23 Jan 2011	London New Venue	Sydenham School, Dartmouth Road, London SE26 4RD 10am – 3pm. ~100+ varieties available. Expert advice, Also incorporating a Seed Exchange (bring your spare seed and leave with something new, flowers, fruit and vegetables). Details from Lindsay Wright or visit the website
Sat/Sun 22/23 Jan 2011	Gloucestershire*	Dundry Nurseries, Cheltenham. 9.30am – 4.30pm. ~ 100 varieties of seed tuber by the individual tuber and 3kg bags, admission free. Signed off Junction 11, M5. Information and talks in the afternoon. Details from Chris Evans, Dundry Nurseries 01452 713124 or website
Sat/Sun 29/30 Jan 2011	Hampshire*	13th Hampshire Potato Days, Testbourne Community Centre, Micheldever Road, Whitchurch. 10am -3pm. ~150 varieties of seed tuber, including Sarpo, (plus ~25 organically grown) by the individual tuber and 2.5kg bags Free coloured potato for each child. Tuber sales, expert advice and children’s activities. Plus onion and shallots sets, beans and other seed sales, seed swap, green manure and organic fertilisers, talks and cookery demos. Signed from the A34. For full details press here or from Phil Cooper or 07825 112677 See report on theWhitchurchWeb
Sat/Sun 29/30 Jan 2011	Coventry*	16th National Potato Days, Ryton Organic Gardens, 10am – 4.30pm. ~ 130 varieties of seed tuber by the individual tuber, cookery demos, children activities and more. Garden Organic members only on Saturday. More information on 024 7630 8211 Full details here
Sat/Sun 29/30 Jan 2011	Cheshire	Gordale Nursery, Chester High Road (A540), Urton, Wirral over 75 varieties on sale, both packed and loose and Medwyn Williams (10 times Chelsea Gold Medalist) will be speaking and advising on the Sunday. More information on 0151 336 2116.
Sat 29 Jan 2010	Derbyshire	Transitions Chesterfield’s Third Potato Day, The Pavements, Chesterfield 10am – 2pm.Over 68 varieties of seed potatoes for sale by the tuber, seed swap, and potato-themed games and activities for the whole family. More details and order form http://www.transitionchesterfield.org.uk/content/events
Sat 29 Jan 2010	Kent	Yalding Gardens’ First Potato and Seed Day, The Yalding Garden, Bushel Box Farm Shop and Cafe, Benover Road, Yalding ME18 6EX 1 – 3pm. Dozens of seed potato varieties including organic, disease resistant and heritage seed potatoes all to buy by the tuber. Plus a seed swap where you can bring along your excess seeds to swap with those saved at the gardens including heritage seeds and seeds from fellow growing enthusiasts. There will also be growing tips, information, games, recipes and tastings. Entry £1.50, kids free (includes entry to the Gardens) More details see website or ring 01622 814650.
Sat 30 Jan 2010	Lancaster	The Friends Meeting House, Lancaster (next to Lancaster Railway Station) 12noon – 4pm. Seed potatoes to buy, Potato Café, Children’s Games, Lancashire Apple Trees. More details call 07538 858148
Sat 30 Jan 2010	Cheshire	Bollington & District Horticultural Society Potato & Vegetable Day. Bollington Civic Hall, Hurst Lane/Palmerston Street, Bollington, Macclesfield SK10 5JX 10am – 3.30pm. Free entry. How to grow your own vegetables and potatoes. Advice and starter kits. Items on sale include flower and vegetable seeds, onion sets, shallots, rhubarb, horseradish, strawberries and over 75 varieties of potatoes.
Sun 30 Jan 2011	Middlesborough*	Nature’s World. Follow brown tourist signs from A19/A174 junction. 10am – 2pm. ~25 varieties, many organic. Advice on all aspects of organic growing. Refreshments available. More details on Durham Organic Gardeners’ Association website or 0191 3863616
Sat 5 Feb 2011	Shropshire*	Nesscliffe Village Hall, just off the A5, NW of Shrewsbury. 9am – 3pm. Breakfasts, lunches, teas, cakes, advice, seeds, compost, sacks, free entry, 15p per tuber. Details from Shropshire Organic Gardeners 01939 260935
Sat 5 Feb 2011	Durham*Correction to date	Bowburn Community Centre, County Durham. 10am – 2pm. ~25 varieties, many organic. Bowburn is at Junction 61 of the A1(M). Advice on all aspects of organic growing. Refreshments available. More details on Durham Organic Gardeners’ Association website or 0191 3863616
Sat 5 Feb 2011	Wiltshire	Urchfont Potato Day Urchfont Village Hall, Urchfont nr. Devizes SN10 4QU 10.30am – 2.00pm. 100 plus varieties of potatoes for sale by the single tuber, onion sets, shallots, garlic, Heritage Seeds, fruit trees, rhubarb crowns and much more. More information call 01749 860039 or www.potato-days.net
Sat 5 Feb 2011	Devon	Eggesford Garden and Country Centre, Eggesford, Nr Chulmleigh, Devon EX18 7QU 9am – 5pm. 70 varieties on sale plus tips and tricks from the experts. Special offers on the day and fun for the kids too. Details from 01769 580250 or see www.eggesfordgardens.com
Sat 5 Feb 2011	Gloucestershire	Stroud Potato Day Merrywalks Shopping Centre, Stroud GL5 1RR 9.30am – 2.30pm selling over half a tonne of seed potatoes – over 20 varieties supplied by Dundry Nurseries, plus lots of information and a free leaflet plus the new Stroud Potato Recipe Book will be on sale. Details on website
Sun 6 Feb 2011	Brighton	Seedy Sunday (the UK’s first Seed Swap!) Hove Centre, Norton Road, Hove. Community seed swap all day – heritage and outlawed seeds as well as locally grown organic flower and herb seeds, plus films, talks, exhibitions and potatoes.10.30am – 3.30pm Adults £1.50 (tickets on the door) Children free. Details www.seedysunday.org or Fran Saunders on 01273 381686
Sun 6 Feb 2011	Lancashire	Woodley Park Centre, Woodley Park Road, Ashurst, Skelmersdale WN8 6UQ(5 mins from the M58). 10am -3pm. Up to 100 varieties of potato tubers will be available for purchase, refreshments, tombola & nutritional advise on potatoes. Also available Seeds, Onion sets, Garlic and plants. For more information call Margaret on 07909660077 or Steve on 07876442341 or visit Skelmersdale Horticultural Society’s website.
Sat/Sun 12-13th Feb 2011	Buckinghamshire	Buckingham Nurseries, Tingewick Road, Buckingham, MK18 4AE 10am – 4pm. 3rd Potato Day & Scion wood swap ~40 varieties. Thompson & Morgan’s potato and vegetable expert, Colin Randel and local allotmenteer Bernard Stopps. Demonstrations throughout the weekend of APPLE SCION GRAFTING with Fritz De Zutter from Moulton College (Northamptonshire). Bring along your own apple wood for grafting, and see how it’s done and even have a go yourself! Rootstocks are available for purchase and there will be some scion wood as well. Members of THE NATIONAL VEGETABLE SOCIETY BUCKS DISTRICT ASSOCIATION will be on hand to answer your vegetable questions and will have a display of their winter vegetables to view and discuss. www.buckingham-nurseries.co.uk Tel: 01280 822133 e-mail: [email protected]
Sat 12 Feb 2011	East Anglia*	Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal, Nr Stowmarket, IP14 6AT (Brown Tourist Signs) 9.30am-2.30pm. £1.50. Choose from approx 100 varieties of seed potato (approx 30 grown organically). Speaker, Potato tasting including chips! Norfolk Organic Gardeners book stall, seed swap, hand-crafted copper tools, seed merchants, English wine for sale, compost supplies, refreshments, advice & information. Details on the website
Sat 12 Feb 2011	Dorset	4th Drimpton Potato Day Drimpton Village Hall, Drimpton nr Beaminster DT8 3RF 10.30am – 3.30pm. 100 plus varieties of potatoes for sale by the single tuber, onion sets, shallots, garlic, Heritage Seeds, fruit trees, rhubarb crowns and much more. More information call 01749 860039 or the website
Sun 13 Feb 2011	Somerset	6th annual Somerset Potato Day Pylle Church Hall, Pylle (off A37), Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6SZ 10.00am – 2.00pm 100 plus varieties of potatoes for sale by the single tuber, onion sets, shallots, garlic, Heritage Seeds, fruit trees, rhubarb crowns and much more. Refreshments served by East Pennard Gardening Club. More information call 01749 860039 or www.potato-days.net
Sat 19 Feb 2011	Wiltshire	3rd Annual Codford Potato Day Codford Village Hall (offA36), Codford, Warminster BA12 0LD 10.30am – 2.00pm. 100 plus varieties of potatoes for sale by the single tuber, onion sets, shallots, garlic, Heritage Seeds, fruit trees, rhubarb crowns and much more. More information call 01749 860039 or www.potato-days.net
Sat 19 Feb 2011	West Yorkshire*	West Yorkshire Organic Group Potato Day 2011 Shipley Colleges, Exhibition Road, Saltaire. 10am – 2pm. ALL tubers will be priced at 15p each. Potato themed cafe food will be available and warm and cold drinks. Entry free. More information www.wyog.org
Sat 19 Feb 2011	Essex*	1st SE Essex Potato Day 2011 Growing Together Gardens, 47 Fairfax Drive, Southend-on-Sea SSO 9AG. (Please park in Prittlewell Chase and use Fairfax Drive entrance). 10am – 2pm. Choose from a selection of over 30 varieties of potato – all available to buy by the tuber, perfect for allotment holders and gardeners, a third organic, refreshments available. Admission £1.00. More details from Carole Shorney 01702 201914.
Sat 19 Feb 2011	North Wales	Church Hall, King Street, Mold 10am – 3pm. A large selection of seed potatoes and vegetable seeds will be available. Free admission. For further information please contact Judy Jesse on 01978 761083 or Sue Watson on 01745 710232. See NCCPG website.
Sat 19 Feb 2011	Shropshire	Potato Day, Wellington Market, Wellington Shropshire 10am – 12noon. Organised by The Wrekin Co-operative Allotment Society.
Sun 20 Feb 2011	Manchester	Hume Garden Centre, 28 Old Birley Street, Hulme, Manchester M15 5RG. Information 0161 227 8198 or Hume Garden Centre
Sun 20 Feb 2011	Somerset	2nd Potato Day and Seed Swap Market Yard, Justine Lane, Frome BA11 1BE 11am – 3pm. Organised by SDustainable Frome in partnership with Vallis Veg. Community Seed Swap, gardening equipment and food. Admission £1, which includes a free packet of seeds
Sun 20 Feb 2011	Edinburgh	Bridgend Allotments Community Health Project 5th Potato Day, Bridgend Allotments, 41 Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH16 4TE 11am – 2pm. A wide variety of seed potatoes for sale. Talks and tips on growing and cooking. Refreshments and entertainments. Entrance FREE – all welcome. For details call 0131 664 9559. Parking is limited, so if you’re coming by car, please try to park elsewhere. If you are coming to buy seed potatoes, we would appreciate it if you could bring your own bags! A list of seed varieties available is here and here’s a poster (with a map).
Sat 26 Feb 2011	Calder Valley *	Calder Valley Organic Gardeners’ Potato Day 2011 Church of the Good Shepherd, Royal Fold, New Road, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge HX7 5DZ. 10am-4pm. Admission £1 includes entry to Potato Raffle. 44 varieties (organic & non-organic) @ 14p per tuber with a pre-order service for most varieties. There will also be children’s activities, information displays, crafts, compost and plant stalls, sculptures plus food & drink at the Potato Cafe. The Catalogue, Order Form and Terms & Conditions can be dowloaded from the website
Sat 26 Feb 2011	Wiltshire	1st Marshfiled Potato Day Marshfiled Village Hall, Tormartin Drive, Marshfield SN14 8NN organised by Marshfiled Garden Club. 10am – 2pm. 100 plus varieties of potatoes for sale by the single tuber, onion sets, shallots, garlic, Heritage Seeds, fruit trees, rhubarb crowns and much more. More information call 01749 860039 or www.potato-days.net
Sun 27 Feb 2011	London	London Potato & Fruit Day Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EB 10am – 4pm. Normal museum charges apply.100 plus varieties of potatoes for sale by the single tuber, onion sets, shallots, garlic, Heritage Seeds, fruit trees, rhubarb crowns and much more. More information call 01749 860039 or www.potato-days.net
Sun 27 Feb 2011	Tyne and Wear	Potato Day, The Hop Garden, 1 The Crescent Allotments, off Bute Road South, High Spen, Gateshead NE39 2AW 2 – 4pm. Top quality seed potatoes at a reasonable price and advice about growing your own, refreshments. Details and map on the Hop Garden website
Sat 5 Mar 2011	Somerset	3rd Holford Potato Day Holford & District Village Hall (A39), Holford, nr.Bridgwater TA5 1RY. 100 plus varieties of potatoes for sale by the single tuber, onion sets, shallots, garlic, Heritage Seeds, fruit trees, rhubarb crowns and much more. More information call 01749 860039 or www.potato-days.net
Sun 6 Mar 2011	Somerset	Wells Potato Day, in aid of Wookey Hole in Bloom, Seagar Hall, Union Street, Wells BA5 2PU 10am – 2pm. Free admission – refreshment, parking at the rear of the hall (charges apply). 100 plus varieties of potatoes for sale by the single tuber, onion sets, shallots, garlic, Heritage Seeds, fruit trees, rhubarb crowns and much more. More information call 01749 860039 or www.potato-days.net
Sun 6 Mar 2011	Borders*	Springwood Park, Kelso, Borders 11am – 3.30pm. Potatoes, onions, seeds, other environmental stands and displays, potato themed refreshments, speakers. Contact 01289 388501 or Borders Organic Gardeners
Sun 6 Mar 2011	Dumfries	3rd Potato Day, Gardenwise Garden Centre, Castle Douglas Road, Dumfries, DG2 8PP. Medwyn Williams will be there to offer all sorts of advice to any keen vegetable growers. More information at JBA’s Growing Potatoes website
Sat 12 Mar 2011	Wiltshire	1st Pewsey Potato Day Bouverie Hall, North Street, Pewsey SN9 5QE 10am – 2pm organised by Pewsey Garden Club. 100 plus varieties of potatoes for sale by the single tuber, onion sets, shallots, garlic, Heritage Seeds, fruit trees, rhubarb crowns and much more. More information call 01749 860039 or www.potato-days.net
Sat 12 Mar 2011	Perthshire	6th Dunblane Potato Day, organised by Dunblane Allotment Group, Cathedral Hall, The Cross, Dunblane FK15 0AQ 10am – 2pm. 48 varieties of seed potato, onions and garlic sets and vegetable seeds and more for sale. Refreshments available.
Sun 13 Mar 2011	Somerset	Rushall and District Potato Day, Rushall Village Hall, Rushall SN9 6EN 10am -2pm. 100 plus varieties of potatoes for sale by the single tuber, onion sets, shallots, garlic, Heritage Seeds, fruit trees, rhubarb crowns and much more. More information call 01749 860039 or www.potato-days.net

This page was last updated on 3rd February 2011