One potato, 28 potatoes

Sunday morning, south London, 10.30am. Queues snaking down the steps of Sydenham School. Eager beavers, out early, keen to start the gardening year, to fill up their bags and plots with promise and potatoes. Potato days (there are still yet more to come, country-wide) have grown like... well, potato plants, over the past few years, and we are always anxious to attend. For many it's the first real sign of winter's decline. A gathering of the gardening clans (or 'hippies and old people', according to my daughter Kala), like a jumble sale, people elbowing each other out of the way to get to the pink fir apple before they all go. What we like (apart from profits going to charity) about the London Fair, is the ability to chose just one potato of each if you want (like a pick-and-mix at the Odeon). So, as much for Howard who wasn't well, here is our (over-optimistic, over-enthusiastic, totally unrealistic) crop shop for 2011. One Highland Burgundy potato Two Anya Two Shetland Black Two Salad Blue Two International Kidney (Jersey Royal strain, I think) Three pink fir (our first) Three Red Duke of York Three Yetholm Gypsy (our facourite) Four Belle de Fontenay Six ratte (the end of the bucket at bargain rate) Now we don't/won't have room for them all, but I just couldn't help going back for a second bite after a cup of tea and cake. I suspect we will be passing some on to family and friends (my other daughter Radha has expressed interest in growing potatoes in pots). From the wonderful biodynamic seed supplier Stormy Hall , I also overstocked on assorted vegetable and herbs. Plus, Bull Blood from Thomas Etty , and a small selection from the Seedy Sunday stall (including three intriguing ' tree onions '?) and a bag of shallots from Franchi . I have of course overbought, but then (I always tell myself) optimism is important in gardening. Now, anyone else stocking up for summer?