Topic: Potato

[Admin aka Dan]

What type of potato do we all grow - if any !

I'm a king edward fan myself (mainly becuase I like em)

[Chloe]

Have grown all sorts, in my time.  This year I have planted a second early, think it is called Maris Peer.

[afhs]

:)  Hi    I've just joined the group.  I've grown Kestrel under black plastic for the past two years with some success.  Kestrel seems pretty resistant to slugs and the yield has been good.  Good tasting as well.

Cheers.

[digger]

I have just planted some Saxon from "Tesco's" - the spuds had all sprouted and were not very pleasant eating so I have decided to have a go and plant them. I dont know what the yield will be like but if it is any good they will be very cheap seed pots at £1.50 per 12 kg.

Has anyone else tried supermarket spuds?

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[bugboy]

Any of the Maris genus are good for blight resistance, even though their taste may not be the best. We grow Maris Piper and Maris Peer. Down here (Southampton) the blight really goes for King Edward !!

[gavin]

Loads!  There was a Potato Day locally, in Shipley, and we came home with lots of envelopes with four potatoes of each variety we wanted to try.  I'll do that again - lovely idea.

What varieties?  - ah, but I've lost my bit of paper where I noted what I'd planted where!!!

All best - Gavin

[stewart]

Maris piper, peer and also Cara have done well for me in these northern latitudes!  Have also had some success with salad types in the polytunnel

[LynneA]

Rocket & Red Duke of York first earlies
Kestrel plus a few Shetland Black seconds
Sante, Golden Wonder & Pink Fir Apple maincrops.

This is the third year I've grown Rocket - I may ring the changes next year.

[digger]

Getting a good crop from my supermarket spuds - could have done with more watering though while I was away for 5 weeks.

[good_life_girl]

I too planted some supermarket spuds that had got a bit out of control in the cupboard - Maya I think (small salad type with knobbly bits!). My caution on doing this in the future was that it looked like they got early blight (back in early June) - I managed to catch it by lopping the tops off, but meant for a bit of a small (size rather than number) crop. Guess that proper seed potatoes are more blight resistant as my main crop (goodness only knows what from the garden centre) planted right next to them weren't affected :)

[barwin]

I have grown Cara for the first time I have sandy soil and its done very well

[gavin]

An update on that vague "lots" I mentioned earlier.  Lifted the Kestrel yesterday - and as ever, a superb crop.  Need to rephrase that - with drought, and lack of attention, I ended up with half as much again as usual!  Free of slugs, free of disease - except a little scab.

And the Pink Fir Apple - four seed pots from Potato Day.  And the yield - not many, very small, and very pale;  they appear to dislike drought -------------- BUT THE FLAVOUR!  Superb!!!!  Definitely on my favourite list from now.

All best - Gavin

[tim]

1. Don't give up on Pink Fir - a wonderful late pot - just starting to use ours now - 25 fruit per plant (on rock hard clay).  We've had them the size of a banana in the past.  And, of course, you don't have to peel them. Wondrous!

2. Sprouting s/mkt ones? Our Cara did us proud last year.

3. With us, reds always seem cleaner than whites, but we do try to follow the guidance of the organic catalog. Of all people, they most want trouble free varieties. - Tim

[Colin_Bellamy-Wood]

We planted "Fen Early" (or "Early Fen") and they seemed to be OK.   Our Charlottes were great, and make a superb cold potato salad.    They were planted under the apple tree which drains that part of the plot of water, and also soil is only a spade depth before hitting rockhard clay.

We also had a plot 8m x 2m full of Cara which were eaten by wireworm.   This is a plot which had been neglected for 5 year or more, so it makes me wonder.  

I might have a look at your "Pink Firs" next year Tim, I presume they make good baking potatoes too???

Colin.

[gavin]

How's this for potatoes!!!  

http://pages.eidosnet.co.uk/~romans/index.htm - just a pity they don't sell retail.  Sad!

All best - Gavin

[Ceri]

ah, but  ...... is an allotment association retail?  I reckon if you had enough people willing to pre-order they may well supply.

[tim]

Yes, Alan is the advisor to - um - forgotten! A very beamy chap. Knows his 'onions'.

And Colin - never assume - they are salad potatoes. But, strangely, you can bake, roast or deep fry!! And don't forget - no peeling - until cooked, if you have to - eg for pot salad.

Don't know what's happened, but our haulms this year are 4' high.  Wrong - 4' long, because they're lying on the ground! - Tim

[Ragged Robin]

Planted 9 varieties this year following a visit to a potato fair.
Earlies did well but main and lates- nice spuds but not very many!
Will probably try gool old king edwards next year