First posted 4th October 2023
We grow and sell our own potatoes. The three varieties on sale are Wilja, Marfona and a red variety called Manitou. All three varieties are available to buy in either a 25kg sack (£10) or a 10kg bag (£5).
This years growing conditions have been much kinder than last season and all of our spuds have had enough rainwater this year and have reached a good size.
A 25kg sack of potatoes at £10/bag represents terrific value for money, especially when you consider the cost of a portion of chips. It is however worth remembering a couple of pointers before you buy. Main crop potatoes in the UK are generally harvested in September or October. A sack purchased at that time of year, will, if stored in a cool, dark, dry, frost-free place easily keep until Christmas.
The potato may be an inanimate object, but it is still alive and like everything living, ages. This is illustrated by the difference in shelf life between a sack of spuds purchased in November and one bought in March. By late March the spud is beginning to think about diving into a warm bed of soil and procreating. Hence the rapid appearance of shoots, on spuds bought at that time. We therefore advise that whilst it makes sense to buy a sack before Christmas, if you don’t use a lot of spuds, buy a smaller quantity after Christmas.
Our Varieties
Marfona
Wilja is a very versatile potato, long and oval in shape with a rough yellow skin and light yellow flesh. A waxy potato, suitable for boiling, roasting, chipping and baking. Wilja mashes beautifully and has an excellent flavour.
Manitou potatoes are oval, large-sized potatoes with pink skin and yellow flesh. In terms of cooking properties Manitou is described as a waxy potato and is suitable for boiling, roasting, chipping, baking and mashing.
Marfona has moderately waxy texture. The size is good and the shape far more oval than Wilja. It has a light brown or yellow skin and a yellow to cream flesh. It has a strong flavour and is very good for boiling and mashing,but will roast and chip too. It’s also great as a jacket potato.