Seed potatoes now in Wilkinson's

I noticed today that there are seed potatoes in my local Wilkinson (NE England) so this is probably a national thing.

Not many varieties, but there's one I want to try this year, ie Kestrel

There are bags of potatoes, or you can pick your own and weigh them as required. At least that way, you are sure to get a decent set of spuds ... as long as you're quick I suppose.

 

Wilkos normally never sell Kestrel.

 

I don't understand why they are selling them this early, especially in the cooler north. Potatoes (the foliage anyway) are very frost tender. They also do not appreciate being planted in very wet ground.

Wait another month before you buy is my advice.

 

I'm going to wait until they're reduced (which is normally always in time for me plant at the end of April/beginning of May in my cold, wet, clay soil in a frost pocket).

 

I checked today and they are definitely selling Kestrel

 

I saw a post from Mr. Fothergills saying it's chitting time. Maybe just a selling tactic then? Would be nice if he posted me my stuff soon!

 

They've never sold them this far down south, nor have they had them on their website for ordering and collection in store.

There's no Wilkos stores offering that anywhere near me, but I can remember shopping in Wilkos, Northampton about 20 years ago (before they migrated south) and buying loose pea and runner bean seeds (by the pint?).


P.S. @WillieBee Could you post a pic of Kestrel for sale in Wilko as I'd really like them to stock them in my local store.

 

I'll not be there for a while .. give them a call.
Address: 20 Bedford St, North Shields, Northumberland NE29 6RX
Phone:0191 258 4440

 

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I'll pursue this through my contact at Wilkos customer services.

 

I don't buy online from the major seed-etc. sellers as they shop-when-they-ship, regardless of whether the tubers will sit in a delivery warehouse / van on a freezing cold night.

I would be wary of buying from the "sheds" if they let them get that cold too (obviously not a problem in the mild winter, thus far)

I buy now because otherwise favoured varieties go out of stock, and I start a few off in bags in January for the earliest of early crops. They seem to me to be happy in a cool, well lit, spot chitting.

I think being able to buy "tow or three" seed tubers of varieties you might want to do a growing & tasting trial on is an excellent idea, and garden centres that sell them loose is a big help in that regard. For the rest I buy mine online from www.jbaseedpotatoes.co.uk - excellent quality, service and they don't ship in cold weather They start shipping at the end of January I think.

 

A few years ago seed spuds at Wilkos were in 3Kg bags, last year they were in 2.5Kg bags and this year they're in 2Kg bags, but the price per bag seems to stay the same.