Potatoes

Shann_mann

Member
Hi all.
I’m a dairy farmer at heart but I’ve but grow a few acres of turnips for a few year now. But next spring I’ve got great plans to plant only 2 acres of potatoes to bag and sell. Where would you get seed potato’s from or do I raid my local wilko and what variety would people recommend?
 

Bogweevil

Member
Hi all.
I’m a dairy farmer at heart but I’ve but grow a few acres of turnips for a few year now. But next spring I’ve got great plans to plant only 2 acres of potatoes to bag and sell. Where would you get seed potato’s from or do I raid my local wilko and what variety would people recommend?

Blight is the main drawback - consider second earlies, they are out of the ground in August escaping some blight and slugs. I assume you have no irrigation so consider ones that are reasonably scab and drought resistant such as Wilja (white) and Kestrel (parti-coloured). I know a fella who does this for his farm shop near Bordon, sells 'em in 5 and 25kg paper sacks. He has irrigation though. Seed suppliers listed here: http://bpta.org.uk/category/membersarea/memberlist/ Use once saved seed once you get going. If you are in the south virus disease accumulates in home saved seed very quickly. Don't use manure from beasts fed on aminopyralid or clopyralid treated fodder.
 

David.

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
J11 M40
I would source some potatoes from another farm and put a margin on them you will actually make a bit of money then.
This.
And I say that as someone who enjoyed growing a few spuds.
Currently better Wilja than I could grow at £6.25 retail from local ag merchant.
Somebody would surely sell you nice spuds for £5 bag.
To answer OP, and we don't know location, but Sandy Murray, Brechin, used to happily send a seed pallet anywhere in the country.
 
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Potatoes are not the game of the uninitiated. Learning to juggle chainsaws has less pitfalls, seriously.

Potatoes are sprayed (and need spraying) regularly. And by regularly I mean more regular than that retired ex civil service guy next door complains to the council. You're talking weekly spraying and with a 100% clean sprayer.
 

Boohoo

Member
Location
Newtownabbey
You need something different so that you can charge a premium and make it worthwhile.
I grow a small area of old varieties like British Queens, Golden Wonder and Arran Victory for ourselves and in a good year sell the surplus.
Thought I'd have plenty to sell this year, kept them blight free and had a good crop but some of the Queens don't taste great and some of the Golden Wonders are hollow so there won't be many of those sold.
If I could buy decent spuds I wouldn't grow them.
 
I love growing our own food.

This year we've done Carrots, Raspberries, Strawberries, Potatoes (Nicola, Rocket, Charlotte etc), Onions, Garlic, French & Runner Beans.

Absolutely love it.

Would like to extend the growing to sell a few items at the farm gate.
 

Forkdriver

Member
Livestock Farmer
Grow your own for personal consumption and interest. Buy in a few to sell on. Take a margin and no risk. A friend who sold tomatoes and eggs through their shop never grew or harvested the quantity sold.
 

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