Sacha wrote in message .uk...
To the best of my knowledge (I'm a Jersey woman now living in UK) when they
lift the potatoes for export which is now, some are kept back, stored and
chitted, then planted next January or February, depending on weather. The
ones we're eating now will have been grown under polythene, is my guess.
I don't know the technical details so I've forwarded your query to a Jersey
farmer friend of mine and will see what he comes up with. He was mostly
dairy but grew a few spuds, too.
Of course, the Jersey people will tell you that you can't grow a true Jersey
Royal anywhere outside Jersey. ;-)

Thank you very much for passing on my query to your farmer friend. I
look forward to hearing any suggestions.

I've heard it said that Jersey Royals don't grow as well outside
Jersey but I'm prepared to try. Firstly, with so-called global
warming, perhaps London is almost as warm now, as Jersey was in the
70s when I remember new potatoes tasting much better than in recent
years. Secondly, I'm going to add seaweed compost to my soil, which
could go one better than Jersey if they don't do that any more!
Thirdly, I can cover the ground with polythene to further warm the
soil.

Nothing is simple, though. I assumed seaweed is seaweed until I went
to a beach to pick some up. I now read that Bladderwrack is the type
to use but it's probably not found on beaches in many parts of the UK.

Regards
George