The seed potatoes have arrived - Happy Potato Day!

Like a child waiting for Christmas I eagerly count down the days until Potato Day, that wonderful day in February each year when the seed potatoes and onion sets arrive. 

Despite the lack of a jolly fat man in a red suit and with a white beard, the complete absence of reindeers, and a lack of surprises (I know what I'm getting for Potato Day, as I ordered them), it's a very exciting day - as for me it marks the start of the growing year.

And today is Potato Day, so I wrapped up warm and headed down to the allotment.  Despite the glorious sunshine, it was a chilly four degrees with a "feels like" of zero degrees - a perfect day to be in the shed!  

This year we're growing Caledonian Pearl as first earlies, Kestrel as second earlies and King Edward as mains.  These varieties were picked as they give good results in our soil and we enjoy the taste of each of them.   For onions we've stuck with the reliable Sturon that we grow every year.

As with most things allotment related there are a million and one different opinions on how, when and where to chit potatoes but I stick to what works for me - I put them out on racks in the shed on the day they come and let nature do it's thing.  

And now we wait until planting time........