Potato advice please !!!

[Rainbow]

I have a new lottie - 4 beds of approx 4.5m x 3m - and have been told that potatoes are the best for breaking up the soil. I am thinking that I will use one bed for potatoes next year while I concentrate on the others, the thing is which sort and how many? I have looked at some catalogues but there seems to be soooo many different types!!! Which ones do you recommend?
Thanks in advance
Rainbow

[Rainbow]

[grotbag]

hi rainbow,there are so many answers to your question.Do you want earlies (1st or 2nd types0 or a maincrop ?And as for varieties ,there are loads to choose from.I use Penland javelin,Foremost and Charlotte for my earlies.For maincrop tis usually Maris Piper.

[kt.]

It all depends on what you want and what type of ground you have.  I have decent soil.  No clay.  So I am really lucky.

First earlies (new potatoes / salad potatoes) - Aaron pilot & Charlotte both do well. Sow Mar/Apr - harvest Jul.

Second earlies - Kestrel.  Excellent yield,  highly disease resistant.  Most reliable 2nd early without a doubt. Sow Mar/Apr - harvest Jul/Aug

Main crop - Desiree produce large red skinned spuds.  Verity also do well.  Sow April - harvest end Aug/Sept

Also - look here:
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,39549.0.html

[Rainbow]

Hi Grotbag. Was thinking of doing some 1st & 2nd earlies and maincrops but not sure how many I will fit in. I know (from A4A) that earlies can be planted closer together but my maths has never been very good!!!!!!
Does anybody have any success with King Edwards as my kids love them roasted?
Rainbow

[cornykev]

Hi Rainbow I did King Edwards last year and didn't have much success  :( , Kestrel are in my and most others opion the best 2nd earlies and PFA are a must, but don't get into the romantic idea that spuds break up the ground its the putting in and digging out that YOU do that breaks up the ground.  ;D ;D ;D

[Rainbow]

Hi Rainbow I did King Edwards last year and didn't have much success  :( , Kestrel are in my and most others opion the best 2nd earlies and PFA are a must, but don't get into the romantic idea that spuds break up the ground its the putting in and digging out that YOU do that breaks up the ground.  ;D ;D ;D

Thanks cornykev, I think what I meant was rather than leave the bed untouched and concentrate on the other beds that I would plant pots as they pretty much look after themselves apart from earthing up of course!!
Rainbow

[daileg]

as we are on this subject
what is everyones opinon on the over all best pots to plant ?
what has been used this year there results .
the reason why im asking lost all my spuds and toms to blight want to give it the best shot for next year , want to get it right i loved the flavour of lady christell creamy texture didnt think much of charlotte a bit watery for my liking love salad pots more than others.

i understand from reading good results from Kestral is this most people opinion ?

thankyou in advance for any help in this matter im sure these questions have been asked before .

[TheEssexYorkshireman]

I had Pentland Javlin for my earlier .. beautiful! .. and Desiree and Maris Piper for my main .. still waiting to dig those up.

[euronerd]

Opinions seem to vary regarding how many, but a spacing of 15 - 18" between each plant seems popular. If your maths isn't up to speed why not stick plant labels or lolly sticks in at said spacings and then count? Seed potatoes are usually bought by weight anyway, so it's not an exact science. Alan Romans is reckoned to be one of the country's leading experts on spuds and his site has lots of useful stuff
http://www.alanromans.com/.
Varieties: many discussions have been had on here, and basically it's trial and error, followed by a compromise between which ones you like personally and which ones like your soil. King Eds are my favourite by a long way but the slugs evidently shared my enthusiasm, so I've settled on something else (Daileg, 1st early - Lady Chrystl, maincrop - majestic and pink fir apple; I don't bother with 2nd earlies). I've heard it said that slugs tend to avoid red skinned spuds but I've disproved that theory.

Geoff.

[Bean_Queen]

I would say: decide what you want your spud for.  These are my current favourites

Rooster (roasting)
Arran Pilot (very early salad)
Pink Fir Apple (late to v.late salad)

[tomatoada]

On the allotments where I am we have had wonderful results with Picasso.  Heavy crops of large healthy potatoes.  They also taste good.  I will be growing the  again in 2009.