FOR Valentine’s Day this year, forget expensive meals out, costly floral bouquets, chocolates or wine; buy your beloved a bucket and a potato for the Great St Florence Potato Challenge 2026 as registration opens on Saturday, February 14!

Give your beloved a gift that keeps on giving - at least until July 4, weigh-in day. They may win a coveted rosette and will at least have home grown potatoes!

The village near Tenby holds an annual potato challenge, bringing the community together for fun and charity. Registration is open until the collection of the buckets and potatoes on March 7. All proceeds from the challenge go to St Florence Church.

150 buckets were sold in last year’s challenge and the number of potatoes harvested from them was 2,271, weighing a total of 74.25 kg!

2025 winners were: Adult class: Heaviest crop – Paula Jeffrey (3016 g) ; Largest number – Anju and Lawrence Mathias (80). Children’s Class: Heaviest crop (3156 g) and largest number 62 – Hadleigh, aged 3, who was declared overall champion. The School also did very well with their entries.

Contact [email protected] for more details on how to register for this year’s challenge.

Based at St Florence, near Tenby, this local Pembrokeshire event would not be possible without the support of sponsors BIRT and Co; J B Roofing; Jewsons, Pembroke and - new for this year - Peter Smithies, Tree House Farm and Elm Grove Country House, St Florence.

The many volunteers who willingly give their time each year are heartily thanked, while the event’s hard-working organiser, Jenny, deserves heaps of praise for ensuring the Potato Challenge continues to be an enjoyable and fun event, open to all.