Seed Potatoes
What’s Different about James Foskett Farms’ Seed Potatoes?- Produced with a sharp customer focus.
- Not just seed, but a service as well.
- Using “best practise” techniques at all stages.
- Constantly under the agronomic eye of an in-house agronomist.
- Very few surprises, sell with confidence.
- You will receive the information you need about the seed.
- All sold through Greenvale AP.
- Sold in partnership with B&C Potatoes in Norfolk under the ESG (English Seed Growers) name.
- All grown in the Safe Haven Seed Scheme.
- Sold by the replantable hectare.
- Always endeavouring to use top quality input stocks.
- All sites are virgin potato fields or very long breaks, more than ten years.
- Input stocks have disease analysis done pre planting.
- Planted in high densities and grown as a specialist seed crop.
- Rigorous aphid monitoring throughout the season.
- Continual monitoring by farm staff and agronomists.
- Early burn downs meaning earlier harvest reducing fungal disease.
- Lifting in warm and dryer (mostly) conditions, August/September.
- Lifting direct into boxes, reducing damage and abrasion.
- Quickly moved to store for cooling and ventilation.
Sophia
Marfona
Estima
King Edward
Maris Piper
Maris Peer
Charlotte
Carlingford
Other varieties can be grown on request as long as permissions can be obtained from the Plant Breeders.
- James Foskett Farms has 3000 tons of purpose built positive ventilation cold storage.
- Positive ventilation and lots of it is the best fungicide known to man.
- Removing harvest moisture reduces bacterial activity.
- Immediate cooling reduces further fungal disease attack.
- Stores are refrigerated and allow holding temperatures of stable +3°C.
- Stores are cleaned thoroughly before each crop.
- Crops are re-ventilated after grading to reduce condensation events.
- The crop can remain in store until the customer really needs the seed.
- Regularly monitored by farm staff and agronomists.
- This seed is only graded once, into 5 size bands.
- This seed is only graded when completely dry and cured.
- Ventilation occurs immediately after grading, or seed is dispatched to the customer immediately.
- Graders are square mesh screen graders providing higher tuber counts and less problems with long tubers in certain varieties.
- Tuber counts are taken continually through the process.
- Dispatch is planned with the grower direct and is on his day and time of choosing.
- Transport is closely controlled and managed to avoid problems.
- Full documentation accompanies seed to the customer.
- The whole process is monitored by our agronomist and seed manager.
- Full PHSI field report available as independent analysis of stock.
- Complete GVAP agronomist field report available.
- Cambridge University Fungal analysis available, micro and macro.
- Post burn down viral tests for Leaf Roll, PVY and PVX available.
- Daily store temperature records kept if needed.
- Various packaging available, Bulker’s new boxes and big bags.
- Any treatments applied at cost, if needed.
- Delivery to planter “just in time” a speciality.
- No added storage costs until May.
- The most accurate way to purchase seed, all farmers plant identified area.
- Densities will vary according to seed size and tuber count, re plantable hectares is the only method that allows this fine detail.
- There will be no waste and no annoying shortfalls of seed.
- It is easy to budget for cost.
- Improved density management leads to more uniform crops year on year.
- Spacing information supplied along with tuber counts and size splits on load.
- James Foskett Farms seed is almost always able to be planted at lower than standard densities and achieve as good results.
- Virgin and long break soils are not a feature of Dutch or most Scottish stocks. Virgin soils have less potato pathogens present, therefore reduced pathogens on stock.
- East Anglia has a warmer and dryer climate than many other seed areas, this means conditions are less conducive to bacterial and fungal diseases.
- Early harvest is a key factor in achieving healthier seed.
- Not grading until completely dry and cured is a major factor in maintaining seed health.
- Using square mesh graders, giving even tuber counts with no long tubers is a real advantage when using cup planters.
- Better seed health and longer dormancy increases stem numbers and provides a more even plant.
- Having even tuber counts of closely graded seed means more accurate planting, especially depth.
- Acclimatisation is believed to give earlier crops than northern seed.
- Fully refrigerated stores mean you will have reliable physiological age and no de sprouting necessary.
- Just in time delivery means handling is easy and the seed is kept in the best possible state until planted.
- Just in time can be for chitting as well and is just as valuable a service.
- Customer to seed producer dialogue is still fairly unique and builds customers’ confidence.
- Reliability in the seed, the producers and agronomists.
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