Milton Annual Potato Growing Competition 2025
Seed potatoes were distributed in April for residents to nurture and love until July.
Rules of the competition dictate that only the potato supplied maybe used and it must be grown in the growing bag provided, however any form of encouragement for growth could be used. Chicken poo, fire ash, music and singing were all tactics reported…. The event is taken very seriously and competition is fierce.
On July 12th villagers and friends of all ages (plus a few dogs hoping for a chip or two later) gathered in The Swan beer garden on a beautiful sunny afternoon for the ‘weigh in’. The air was full of anticipation and friendly banter as Gary, Ann and Steve B picked out the red potatoes from their growing medium and piled the potatoes onto the scales. Whilst most potatoes arrived at the’ weigh in’ being carried or by standard wheelbarrow, Peter and Leanne’s potato was treated to VIP treatment arriving in a wheelbarrow specially decorated for its big occasion.
After missing out on first place to Darren last year Polly won the competition again this year with a crop of 5lb.5 ounces beating Darren’s crop of 4lb.6 ounces.
Steve and Dawn secured third place with a crop of 3lb.4 ounces.
Polly has won this competition many times in the past and it was lovely to see her secure the title again.
Full marks to Sue W for effort and winning the wooden spoon with a crop of 10.5 ounces. Coincidentally Polly and Sue W are friends and next door neighbours but what a huge difference in potato yield… Polly kindly donated her winnings to the Milton Village Hall refurbishment fund.
When all the potato bags had been emptied and weighed and congratulations and commiserations exchanged everyone tucked into chips kindly supplied by The Swan whilst waiting for the final results to be announced.
Thanks to Gary for organising the event and his helpers on the day and also to Steve G for delivering the compost generated to Repton allotments. A lovely friendly community day enjoyed by everyone who took part.
Milton Annual Potato Growing Competition 2024
In April seed potatoes were distributed to competitors and Saturday, 13th July was the day of the “weigh in”.
Villagers assembled in the garden behind The Swan as the potatoes began to arrive in their numbered bags.
Each bag was emptied and weighed with nervous growers looking on…. hoping they would have at least some potatoes and not become the recipient of the booby prize – a wooden spoon.
As each bag yielded up its contents there was encouragement and applause from onlookers and the tension mounted as the leading position for both the heaviest single potato and heaviest yield changed constantly during the proceedings.
There were gasps of amazement when the eventual winner’s bag was tipped out, with large potato after large potato appearing out of the compost. Congratulations to winner Darren Dennis with an incredible total yield of 12lb 7 ounces and the heaviest single potato weighing 1lb. Darren won 2 cash prizes (which he kindly donated to the Village Hall improvements fund) plus the brand new winner’s cup. Runners up for the heaviest total yield were Ian and Sue Tittershall and Paul (5lb 11.5 ounces) and for the heaviest single potato Mandy Avery (10 ounces).
Thank you to Gary and Ann for organising the event, to Olly at The Swan for hosting the event and also providing very well received chips for all after the event.
A lovely community fun afternoon which included twin babes in a pram through to more senior citizens, not to mention 4 dogs which, while being completely baffled by the whole event, certainly enjoyed a chip or two.
