Metchosin Farm is a Certified Organic producer with plants truly adapted to West Coast growing. They are strong supporters of local food security, with all varieties being open pollinated (pure-bred), allowing anyone to save the seeds and use them for future planting. They also support locally produced and adapted seed and have taken the seed safe pledge.
Metchosin Farm has had an active research project since 2017 to select brand new potato varieties, choosing ones for excellent flavour, production level, disease-resistance and beauty. When you think about it there are only five or six potato varieties commonly available. Metchosin Farm has a suggestion on how we can add to potato biodiversity.
Growing new potato varieties is an especially great project to do with kids, and of course, you get to name each potato plant grown as it’s a never-before-seen new kind! If you order a package of our tiny potato seeds (100+ seeds per envelope) you can plant these into potting soil in early spring (the same way you would tomatoes or peppers). Since each seed is the result of pollination, each plant that grows will have had two parents, and will be a new potato variety! At the end of this first growing season, dig up each plant and put aside the largest of the tubers – these you will store over the winter in a cool place for planting next spring. Keep the smaller tubers aside – and start to experiment in the kitchen! Which variety is best for baking, for potato salad, for boiling….? When you replant your new variety tubers in year 2, this is when each plant will really show you what it can do, as tubers tend to at least double in size.
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