Potato - Jersey Benne

NZH. It was over 95 years ago when Jersey Bennes first came to New Zealand, brought here by the Benest people from Jersey. But it was in 1878 that this potato first arrived on the world stage. It originated on Jersey Island, the largest of the Channel Islands quite by accident.  A Jersey farmer, Hugh de la Haye, was at his local store and saw two incredibly large potatoes for sale. He took them home and that night showed them to some of his friends. One of the potatoes had 15 “eyes” on it. The farmer new that each eye can shoot into a whole potato plant, so he and his friends set to cut this potato into 15 pieces. He planted the lot on a ‘côtil’ (a steeply sloping field, often overlooking the sea) above Bellozanne valley. The following spring, they produced a large and early crop. All the plants bar one produce round spuds. The one remaining plant had a prolific amount of distinctly kidney-shaped potatoes. Hugh named them Jersey Royal Fluke, later this was shortened to Jersey Royal. To this day, these spuds account for ½ of the agricultural revenue for the island. It is the only potato given a Protected Designation of Origin, which means it can only be called a Jersey Royal if it was grown on Jersey. The delicious new potato is grown in other parts of the word under the name International Kidney. For New Zealand, the variety that arrived here was a Jersey Royal from the Benest people of Jersey, so it’s NZ name comes from that bit history. Jersey Bennes can be grown all over NZ, but they historically have been grown in Oamaru and have developed a link to this part of our country, much like their ancestors did on Jersey. An early cropper, best harvested as a new potato. These kidney-shaped, thin skinned creamy tasting spuds require no peeling. Famous for the Christmas dinner table served boiled with butter and mint.  

Plant into fertile soil in rows 1 m apart at 40cm spacing. Sow in early Spring, we recommend before the second week of September due to the psyllid bug. Frost tender, so cover if danger of frost, to get established.

500g