Free tips on GYO spuds and fun for all the family

We’re hosting a free event dedicated to spuds from February 17th until 23rd (2014) and it will include advice from representatives from Unwins and expert gardeners. There will also be free craft activities for children and a treasure hunt.

Our General Manager, Norma Moore, says: “There’s nothing like home-grown spuds, so in celebration of one of the UK’s best-loved vegetables we wanted to offer our customers a chance to get some advice on growing their own this year.

“We’ve held the free event for the past few years and it has proved very popular. We’ve invited Ashley Stevens from seed suppliers, Unwins to come along and give his advice on products for helping to grow potatoes. Ashley will be here from 11am until 3pm on Saturday, February 22nd and Sunday, February 23rd and is happy to answer any questions people may have.

“My husband, Pony Moore, who has his own allotment in the town will also be in during the week to give a beginner’s perspective to growing potatoes” 

“We’re also looking forward to welcoming Allan Cavill, the former South West Representative for the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, who is an expert on all things grow your own. Allan will be at the garden centre during the week.

“During the potato festival we will have 63 seed potato varieties, one of the biggest collections in the Westcountry, on show.”

To add to this, there will be free potato printing in the Craft Centre and potato modelling classes in the main shop area for children from 11am until 3pm every day from Monday, February 17th until Sunday, February 23rd.

There will also be a ‘Where is King Edward’ potato treasure hunt around the garden centre with winners scooping a bag of Tyrells crisps.

Norma added: “Our restaurant will also be serving plenty of potato dishes, including potato gratin. We will be labelling all the potato varieties used in our restaurant and there will be tips on how our customers can grow these in their own allotments or gardens.”

The free potato festival event will take place at the garden centre from Monday, February 17th until Sunday, February 23rd during normal garden centre opening hours.

Members of our Grow Your Own Team including Norma, Tom Berry, John Osment and Jane Earthy will be on hand during the event to help you with your potatoes queries too.

Visit our Potato festival homepage for more information...