For this photo reportage of the potato planting season this year, we thank our contributor, Nicole Hamel.
At the time of writing in early March, the ground is very soggy after a record-breaking rainy February. It has meant that planting has been delayed, although the first Jersey Royals of the new season are now available in shops and honesty boxes.
If the bad weather had been limited to Jersey and the UK had had fine weather, it would not have been at all good for the Jersey export trade, as potatoes from elsewhere would have been intruded into the Jersey Royal’s customary time slot. But the weather in England has ben just as bad, which is some consolation.
This first photo was taken on 20 January, on Rue des Teurs Champs in Grouville: gulls flock behind a tractor preparing the soil
31 January, on Rue de Grouville, planting potatoes
16 February, a further photo of planting potatoes, this time in a field on La Grande Route de St Clement
Also on16 February, strips of plastic are laid across the field ready to be spread over the planted potatoes
17 February and the first field of potatoes that Nicolle saw uncovered in Grouville
… and another season fr the Jersey Royal potato is with us, once again
