Our first earlies and Red Baron onion sets from the London Potato fair
A wonderful time at the London Potato Fair and Seedy Sunday (you've got to love that name). After last year's brutal beating over the carbon cost of travelling by car, Sarah and I travelled by train and were very glad we did. The sun was shining, the nice man behind the counter at Honor Oak Park station printed off a map of the area and a kindly lady suggested we walked over One Tree Hill. There were a number of gardeners out at the neighbouring allotments (it was an almost Spring day) so we also stood for a while and admired their plots. There is something very special about belonging to this international sister/brotherhood. Anyway back to the potatoes...
A very early spring Sunday on the One Tree Hill allotments
After reading Jane's comments on the importance of growing potatoes on a new plot, we were keen to get in some organic first earlies (to hedge our bets with the blight). Plumped for the last three Orla, which according the accompanying notes are 'recommended for organic growing due to disease resistance, very versatile'. Figuring three may not be quite enough, we also bought a dozen Red Duke of York, 'said to be more vigorous and have better flavour than DoY. Good for early showing'. But I suspect we really bought them because Sarah and I also thought they were very pretty.
But the most fun was to be had at the Seedy Sunday stall. We were soon laden with Blue Jade mini blue corn and a white corn, too (to make up for not growing corn last year). Also picked up green pumpkin seeds from Caspian St allotments, plus Harlequin,beautiful barlotti beans, Long Blood Red beetroot from the Heritage Seed Library, calloloo greens, Endeavour peas and Red Baron onion sets (wish we had more room, always get over-excited when it comes to seed) ...
There are more Seedy Sundays this weekend and next including one in Lewes and Hove.
Anyone had successes or failures growing any of the above? And what seeds have you swapped or saved so far?
