CVHS Potato Growing Competition - launches April 20th!

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Largest Yield from One Seed Potato Competition

It’s an old competition that may have started in the second world war or even before. It was common in the 1950’s on allotment sites in the UK and now occurs around the world.

Aim: Who can get the biggest yield from a single seed potato?

At the April 20th General Meeting on we will provide, to all interested gardeners, one organic seed potato (Sieglinde German Butter Potato). A small donation towards our CVHS funds would be appreciated.

It’s then up to you what you do with the seed potato! But here are some suggestions….

  1. Chit the potato to encourage the eyes to develop good shoots (approx. 2 weeks in a warm 15- 20 °C sunny place)

  2. Prepare the Growing Space, it needs to be friable, 12-18 inches deep and ideally between pH 5.5 – 6.0. Different gardeners believe in well-manured soil, others use seaweed, wood ash or other amendments, its really up to you – you may have a secret recipe – we won’t ask you to divulge it!

  3. Plant your seed potato: Where is up to you -in the ground, a large pot or a bag (fabric or other)
    a. We want to know how you plan to plant, as it will be useful to compare yields. Just make sure you can regulate the water, and it doesn’t overheat.
    b. Potatoes ideally grow and form tubers between 15-20 °C; over 24 °C, they tend to stop producing tubers and put their energy into seed production.

  4. For this competition, you cannot divide the potato before planting. This was a common practice when potatoes were in short supply, but we want to see the yield from a single undivided potato.

  5. How you care and nurture the potato is up to you. You might have perfected a method from years of experience, or you are new to potato growing and just experimenting on the fly!

  6. On Monday, September 21st (the day of the September CVHS meeting), you can bring your container to the meeting to harvest your crop with others. Alternatively, harvest before and bring the crop to the meeting for weighing. Remember, even the little potatoes add up!

In our March Newsletter, Master Gardener Marion Waters provided advice:

Prizes

  1. Highest weight of potatoes from one undivided seed potato

  2. Most number of individual potatoes from one undivided seed potato

  3. Most unusual-shaped potato

  4. Largest individual potato

  5. Smallest yield

You are obviously welcome to take your potatoes home to enjoy or you can donate to LUSH Valley for their food box program – it’s up to you! This variety is very delicious and has been sourced from Amara Farm (Thank you for supporting us.)

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