Get to know our supplier: Denholm Potato Growers
The arrival of spring welcomes in plenty of new exciting gardening jobs to get stuck into, including one of the best – growing your own potatoes!
During spring, our shelves are filled with a huge variety of seed potatoes, each with different flavours and uses – but none of it would be possible without our incredible suppliers, Denholm Potato Growers.
Denholm Potato Growers share our passion and commitment to gardening, and as one of our longest suppliers, it’s only fitting that we share our history together.
Who are Denholm Potato Growers?
Based in East Lothian and local to our Edinburgh store and Dobbies Central Support Office, Denholm Potato Growers have been growing and supplying seed potatoes since 1925 across the Lothians, Scotland.
Our “Seed potato man” George Lambert is just one of the dedicated and hardworking individuals working behind the scenes.
When George started working at Denholm in 1982, he remembers supplying just 7 or 8 different varieties of seed potato (that’s around 5-6 tonnes) to just one Dobbies Garden Centre – our Edinburgh store.
Of course, our partnership with Denholm Potato Growers has grown a lot since then! Now, Denholm supplies all our stores with their top-notch seed potatoes.
The history of Denholm and Dobbies
Denholm Potato Growers have been supplying our stores with their quality seed potatoes since 1966. The first order we placed was for 3 or 4 tonnes of mostly ‘Kerr’s Pink’ and ‘Maris Piper’ potatoes.
What began with just a few varieties has now expanded to a whopping selection of over 34 different kinds of seed potato, about 200 tonnes, all available for you to grow and enjoy at home.
The ‘Maris Piper’ potato has been a household favourite for years, topping the sales for Denholm and Dobbies in 1982 and 2024. While it’s best known for creating perfect chips, the ‘Maris Piper’ is also incredibly versatile, making it a beloved choice for many.
Other popular varieties include the potato ‘Charlotte’ – another top seller in 2024 – which is perfect for salads, boiling and roasting, and the ‘Kerr’s Pink’, which was an early best-seller in 1966. The ‘Kerr’s Pink’ is especially loved in Ireland for producing delicious potato wedges.
With all these ‘mash’ hits, it’s clear we’ve had a fantastic partnership with Denholm over the last 50 years. We can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Learn more about seed potatoes
March is the ideal time to start planting seed potatoes and at Dobbies we have over 34 delicious varieties to choose from. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, there’s something for everyone to try – and it couldn’t be easier.
Get your first early seed potatoes in the ground or planted in a pot in March, as soon as all risk of frost has passed. In June they’ll be ready to lift straight out the garden into your favourite dishes. Popular first early potatoes include potato ‘Duke of York’, potato ‘Swift’ and potato ‘Caledonian Rose’.
While you’re organising your gardening calendar and deciding what to plant in March, be sure to also pick up your second early seed potatoes, such as potato ‘Charlotte’, ‘Maris Peer’ or ‘Nicola’, while they’re still in stock. These take a little longer to grow, so it’s best to get them early. Plant them in early April and harvest in the beginning of July or August. They’re ideal for salads and boiling.
Don’t forget your main crop potatoes either! These varieties are ideal for winter and make delicious additions to hearty autumn and winter meals, like roast potatoes, chips and baked potatoes. Some of our favourite varieties include potato ‘Maris Piper’, potato ‘King Edward’ and potato ‘Golden Wonder’.
Short on space? In-store we also have the option to buy loose potatoes, which is ideal for anyone looking to save room in the veg patch or with a small outdoor area. You can grow loose potatoes in bags or pots and choose 2 or 3 varieties. This way, you’ll still have all the delicious range of flavours and varieties without any waste.
Adding a couple scoops of potato fertiliser to your soil is a must when planting potatoes as it boosts their growth. Try and keep your potatoes out the of way of frost if possible, bringing them inside or protecting them during bad weather.
Once your potatoes are ready for harvest, store them properly and you’ll be able to enjoy them all the way into winter for your Christmas dinner!
Read our guide on how to grow your own potatoes
For more potato-growing hints and tips, including the best times to plant and harvest seed potatoes, as well as a detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to plant seed potatoes, make sure you read through our blog on growing your own potatoes this spring.
In addition to a complete shopping list of everything you need to grow potatoes, our blog also features valuable advice from our Green Team, including their top techniques for potato-growing success! Find out helpful methods that will give you a productive crop, like ‘chitting’ potatoes to help them grow more quickly.