Spud-U-Love!

The college will have more varieties of the common-or-garden tater cropping up under one roof than anywhere else in the north on Saturday February 23.

A total of 95 types - 36 of them organically grown - will be on sale at the event.

But they are just a chip in a fish fryer's pan compared to the 10,000 varieties worldwide.

The Shipley event will be a field day for allotment holders and gardeners wanting to try new types of potato, says organic grower John Dallas, pictured, who as well as revelling in their taste, finds them good looking as well.

"Kestrel is a great potato - it can be baked, boiled chipped and it's attractive as well - it has purple and pink splashes around the eyes," said John a member of the West Yorkshire Organic Group.

Also on parade will be varieties with such names as Belle de Fontenay, Ballydoon, White Lady and Red Pontiac, Nadine and Midas.

"I prefer them boiled or steamed with butter but they're nice pan fried with spices as well," he said.

John, who has an allotment in Saltaire, works at Bracken Hall Countryside Centre in Baildon. He has been growing his own food for about 12 years.

"The seed potato sale day is for people who grow some or all of their own food," he said.

"I'm keen to make other members of the group, friends, and other growers aware of all these different varieties and to encourage them to give them a go.

"There will be 95 different types for sale, and 36 will be organically grown," he added.

Even the side shows at the event will have a spud theme - including a potato quiz, spud stamp painting and talks on potato cultivation.

The potato tubers will be 11p each or £1 a kilo and the money raised will be shared between John's group and the Henry Doubleday Research Association to be used to promote organic gardening and growing.

The Potato Day is being held between 11am and 3pm at Shipley College in Exhibition Road, Saltaire.

Anyone wanting to order potatoes or find out more about the event should ring John on 01274 580119.