Progress with TPS/true potato seeds

[Jayb]

I had a little firkle under my potato plants grown from TPS yesterday. I was so chuffed to find large enough potatoes to eat! I took just one from each plant. Boiled them for my lunch with a dab of butter, yum. All tasty, most beautifully waxy some not, the largest one started to fray a little at the edges when boiled and was a bit floury for my taste, but overall I'm very pleased. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they don't get blight as I'm leaving them as long as possible before harvesting as they still have some bulking up to do.

I'll do a proper taste test when I harvest them and save the best for planting next year. I can't wait to grow some more TPS next spring, although I've only had a few seed pods set, I'm delighted they are a couple of Russian Blue and Russian Banana  Yayyyyyy

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[Jayb]

[galina]

Jayb, 

these look good!  I grew some TPS years ago and they were at best plum sized, full sized the following year.  This  has been such an awkward year for potatoes (here it didn't rain for over two months), yours is a very good achievement.

Now for the fun of naming them and choosing which to carry on with .... ;D

[earlypea]

Which variety did these originate from Jayb?  Are they much different?

I've got some very plump Red Cara seed pods which I don't think I'll be using if anyone's got a burning desire for those.

Might give Sharpes Express a go next year though.  Feel the chances of success are better with an early variety given blight and all.

[Jayb]

Thank you Galina, I'm really looking forward to doing a proper taste session or two  ;D

Earlypea, I'm not 100% sure now. I thought they were Sarpo Axona x but I suspect some one had a bit of a swap around with me potato apples, so they could be anything as the others were picked up from the ground, possibly Cara though.

Have a look at the Potato Council site you can search varieties including one fro frequency of berries http://varieties.potato.org.uk/search.php
Sharpes Express may not be the best choice.

If you have some seed spare I'd love to give some a go, I have put a thread in swaps too.

[earlypea]

It's easy to confuse them  :)

When they were growing I thought they were Red Duke of York, but when I finally dug up the potato it had turned into Sharpes Express, now I read neither has berries!

There was a Charlotte and a Mayan Twighlight nearby - I suppose must be one of them.  Both of which are firm favourites so that's more luck  :D

My maincrop are properly spaced so those are definitely Red Cara and have been on the plant for at least 5 weeks, more like 2 months - just bought them home.  I'll be happy to send you a couple.  I'll pop over to swaps later..

[Jayb]

I think I remember reading somewhere Mayan (not sure which one or all) readily set berries, Charlottes don't very often. I'm sure you will have fun finding out what they may be.

Yes please to the Red Cara, I'll send a pm  :)