Salad Pots - Belle de Fontene(a?)y

[Hyacinth]

Are these noted for having absolutely no taste whatsoever? :(

The recent gales cut through the foliage which was just starting to flower, so OK, I could accept a small crop, but.....no taste? Thank the lord I cooked them with mint, so all was not lost. I like mint. ;D

Belle de whatever....any afficianados out there?

[Hyacinth]

[dandelion]

Belle de Fontenay! I know it's a salad potato, but isn't this a maincrop? Maybe the flavour hasn't developed yet  :-\?

[Hyacinth]

Dunno, dandelion. It's the 1st time I've tried them. Can't see that I'd want the ones I harvested to be any bigger tho. Do they self-stop and develop taste, do you know ???  Texture was great, tho!!!

[tilts]

I have heard that unlike some veg, spuds are better left a day or two before cooking ~ to improve the taste.  I have just dug some Amandine ~ a small french new potato, they are wonderful and will try and get some for next year, highly recommended.

[flossie]

We didn't eat ours straight away.  Used them as main crops and later into the winter they had a good flavour.  They get better with keeping and are only very mild if eaten as earlies.

Hope that you have some left to try later in the year

[dandelion]

This confirms what you're saying flossie.

http://www.wcf-phoenix.co.uk/potatopicker/variety.asp?VarietyID=7

[Hyacinth]

Thanks for the replies and the link. Dash, had I read that, would have kept them for a while :(

I'd written in another thread that I was growing them in large muck tubs The foliage had reached the top of the tubs and I'd supported it with surplus metal grills from cookers. The recent high winds had blown the foliage clean over the grills, snapping the stems. Hence the harvest, meagre as it was. And then I ate them ;D So no, none saved.

Having much better luck with the others planted in the open ground - none wind damaged so I'm still hoping for that fresh-from-the-garden taste experience.

Thanks again, Lishka

[clara]

I want to defend Belle de Fontenay - I've grown them three years in a row because they are SO delicious.  I think they just need more time in the ground.

[Hyacinth]

I want to defend Belle de Fontenay - I've grown them three years in a row because they are SO delicious.  I think they just need more time in the ground.

Thanks Clara. I'll give them another go next year then  cos I like the name so much :D And they'll be in the ground next time!