exihibition spuds

Ive been quite interested in a method ive found on a blog, which ive slightly edited.
its to plant one potatoe in a 17diam poly pot filled a 1/4 with peat+vitax Q4 mixed + seaweedmeal in, then a 1/4 more with peat, you put the seed in at this stage, then fill to just under the top. this pot is then put on top of a trench which has had manure and blood fish and bonemeal spread in it. You then line up all the poly pots in the trench and then push soil up the sides to ancor them.

link http://smithyveg.blogspot.com/2010/03/spud-prep.html

This is something im going to try next year,
but im wondering were i can buy peat from, also what is peat and the benefit from using it instead of multiperpose compost?  Ive heard that most garden centres dont sell it because its not nature friendly or something simular like that.   

thanks Green finger    

this old post from 'our' man from JBA seed potatoes, may be of interest  

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=34771.msg416557#msg416557

Because im limited for space i think im either going to grow them in peat or compost,
But it sounds like a good idea for when ive got an allotment 

There is some good peat free compost on the market now.
Potatoes don't care what they grow in really as long as it contains feeding for them and they get the correct amount of water.
The yields out of the little bags are tremendous.

Just back from the national championships at Dundee and saw some fantastic spuds.
As usual Sherie Plumb was winning and she grows them in 100% irish moss peat from shamrock.
The skin finish was tremendous and they really stood out.
For the best results you should use moss peat and follow the method as stated above.
Try and plant them in early March and harvest them in the first week of July.
When I say harvest I mean that you would cut the shaws off and place the bags in a cool area which is dry and does not allow the bags to get wet. Wait for about 10days for the skins to set and then take them out of the bags carefully.
You can select through the potatoes and pick all the ones out that around 200gms in weight.
Some people wrap the potatoes in fleece and then store them in brand new dry moss peat again.
I got my eyes opened today when I saw how good the NVS Amour and NVS Sherine were as they were all from minitubers. They were outstanding.
If I can get some pictures then I will pop them on here.