if you were only growing...

[aquilegia]

... one variety of potato, what would you choose?

I only really have space for about 20 potato plants (including some in containers), so I have to decide on just one variety. I can't find anywhere that sells them in less than 3kg bags and I don't know anyone locally to swap with. But I'm having so much trouble deciding.

Last year I grew charlottes and desiree (my swap partner from last year isn't growing spuds again this year unfortunately!) I love both of them. But I'm want to try something new and want a first early to get spuds earlier.

What would you suggest?

[aquilegia]

[markfield rover]

Rocket -if I could  only have one  ,a good early but goes onto a great baker later.

[shirlton]

Nadine. A second early but a great storer and waxy just what we like

[Ellen K]

What  a great Q to think about.  And 10 Charlotte and 10 Desiree are a great choice.  Or maybe 10 Lady Crystl and 10 Arran Victory.

If it was really only one I would probably grow Picasso as my neighbours have grown it with excellent results.

[Ellen K]

Wilkos and a few Garden Centres sell packs of 5 tubers of some varieties so you may be able to find something. 

[Flighty]

The second early Kestrel, which is well worth waiting for!

[gwynnethmary]

Wilkos and a few Garden Centres sell packs of 5 tubers of some varieties so you may be able to find something. 

We used them last year, our first year on the plot, and had good success withNadine, Nicola, Charlotte, Kestrel and Pink Fir Apple.  The Roosters were quite badly slug-damaged.  It's a really good way to experiment when you only have room for a few tubers, and I'll be looking out for them again soon.

[spatiallyaware]

Epicure - for the taste
Or
Pink Fir apple - ditto taste, and sheer entertainment value
Or
Vitelotte - for the fun of having purple mash

are any of the potato days local to you?
http://www.potato-days.net/
Great for picking up small quantities of tubers.

[aquilegia]

I didn't know about the wilcos 5-packs. I also didn't know there was a wilcos a few miles from us (thank you google!) so I will go there next week!

thanks for the suggestions - I can get all of them now (well, maybe!)

[jimtheworzel]

SHARPES EXPRESS
Makes wondeful chips, a first early potato ready early june and is a 100 year old variety and still going strong

jim

[jazzidoodle]

pound shop does for for guess what £1!

[Unwashed]

I'd say Rocket too.  As a first early I don't rate them, but they mature into a delicious versatile heavy-cropping second early, and they're very compact too.

[Deb P]

Charlotte. Very reliable, lovely small as a salad potato, great when bigger as a roastie or baker. Love them! ;D

[Lottiman]

Charlotte is one of my overall favorites.I'm trying harlequin this time a pink fir apple charlotte cross.

[calendula]

if I had a shortage of space then I would almost certainly go for a first early so that you can then use that space for other crops after harvest but then it really depends on what type of spud you want - salad, multi purpose, chips, mash etc - I love salad potatoes so would grow Altesse but would also consider a variety I hadn't grown before because there are so many to choose from

[Robert_Brenchley]

Probably a second early in my case as they double up as maincrops as well. I'm not sure which one; I like Charlotte, but it's too susceptible to blight.

[pigeonseed]

Definitely pink fir apple. so delicious.

[Mr Smith]

  Nadine for us love the spuds,  :)

[djbrenton]

Mimi if I were only growing one.

[Ninnyscrops.]

For taste, earlies, Lady Christl
For storage and versatility, Cara

Can't decide which one, sorry  :(

Ninny  :)