[01
FEB 01]] RYTON ORGANIC GARDENS NEWS
Potatoes Take Centre Stage At Ryton
Nearly
150 different varieties of potatoes will be on show at Ryton Organic
Gardens this weekend when the vegetable takes centre stage for the
eighth year in a row.
Budding
gardeners can catch a glimpse of the different types on at the event
organised by the Henry Doubleday Research Association, in collaboration with Waitrose, on Sunday.
A
record line-up of 140 varieties will be on show at the unique events,
which will be opened to HDRA members on Saturday by Geoff Hamilton's
twin brother Tony.
Gardening guru
Stefan Buczacki will be opening the event to the public on Sunday.
Gardeners
will be able to buy individual tubers to grow and harvest, and there
will displays and advice desks.
All
the fascinating facts about potatoes will be revealed at a series of
talks, and there will be cookery demonstrations. Potato-themed lunches
will be on sale in the cafeteria.
The
plight of the potato will also be raised, with many types dropping out
of production.
Potatoes
now have to be registered on a ‘national and EU list’ in order to
be sold, which can be costly for seed potato producers and many have
been dropped from the list.
HDRA,
with support from Waitrose, is striving to keep these old and unusual
potato varieties going.
By
letting the public know that they exist and by continuing to sell them
they stand a better chance of surviving.
Waitrose
agronomist Alan Wilson said:
"Apart
from the fact that a lot of these potatoes taste wonderful, we need
to keep them in existence so that plant scientists can breed from
them to create better potatoes in the future.
“With
the climate changing as it is, who knows what characteristics these
potatoes hold in their genes that may be vitally useful for coming
generations.”
Waitrose
is playing its part in saving old potato varieties by gradually
re-introducing them into its stores. Red King Edward, for example,
should be available for sale next year. It will also have limited
stocks of three unique varieties – Fortyfold, Shetland Black and Mr
Bresee.
Jackie
Gear, HDRA’s Executive Director said:
"This
year’s Potato Day has a history of seven spectacularly successful
Potato Days behind it, with thousands of visitors coming from all
over Britain to enjoy the event. It is our chance, once again, to
promote potatoes as a prime, quality vegetable.
“We
want to encourage families to be more adventurous in what they eat.
Why buy chips all the time when you can get so much pleasure from
growing your own distinctive potato varieties?
“You
simply cannot beat the taste of your very own new potatoes, freshly
harvested from the rich earth and boiled and served simply with a
knob of butter and a sprig of mint.
“Everyone
is welcome to Potato Day, young and old, novice or experienced
gardener, ordinary cooks or professional chefs. There’ll be
something to please them all on the day.”
Ryton
Organic Gardens are five miles south east of Coventry signposted off
the A45. The event is from 10am to 5pm and admission costs £3
for adults, children free.
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