Consistently massive potato

[chriscross1966]

I eat a lot of baked potatoes, so something that produces a consistently massive baker is of interest to me.... I have a few feet spare in the spud patch so anyone got a consistent massive spud to recommend?... It doesn't need to produce loads of potatoes, but I want them big .....

[chriscross1966]

[star]

I only ever use Kestrel, even though they're a 2nd early if they're left in the ground long enough they do produce some big tubors.....not all consistantly big of course. And because they have a certain resistance to slug damage as you will know, they sit well for a long time.

Good and floury for bakers  ;D

[manicscousers]

Kestrel and desiree gave us some big spuds last year, some too big, 1 between the two of us. I think they had been left in the ground a bit too long  :)

[Ellen K]

Picassso grew hugh spuds last year but they are a tad prone to slug attack so I didn't grow them again this year.

[goodlife]

I can't recommend any..but..I'm trialling one this year. I had some HUGE bakers from farmer last year (no idea of variety)..saved some shoots and grew them in buckets for seed potatoes. They didn't produced many at all..but the resulting 'seeds' looked really good..good size and clean skins.
I tried to chit them, but they did produce only a very few shoots (another promising sign)..all are now planted and I'm hoping to get some bakers this year..if they produce 'berries' for seed even better..if not..I shall carry on saving tubers and shoots and producing my own stock.
I'm feeling very optimistic for the results..and all this lovely rain as well... ;D

[Digeroo]

Swindon Wyevale had some Kestral 1/2 price the other day.

[Paulines7]

I grew picasso last year and they were large.  Fortunately I didn't have slug damage.  I have planted some again this year.

[small]

My Cara were enormous last year, but they were the only variety to get slugged in the dry summer.....I was disappointed with the quality and won't grow them again, but you might look after them better....

[Flighty]

I always get plenty of big Kestrel and Desiree.  The latter being a red variety seem to be relatively slug proof if you want to leave them in the ground as long as possible.

[goodlife]

I've  just had a look through JBA seedpotato site..and out of the list of recommended  varieties for baking there was 3 that stood out with description them being large...Pentland Crown, Pentland Dell and Estima.

I'll have a look at some of my old books what they say and ask around from some the farmers around here...they will know.

[goodlife]

One of my books say.. "Pentland Squire produce unusually large tubers"

And Marfona has popped up as good variety of large bakers.

[chriscross1966]

I did see soem Kestrel in Wyevale Digeroo, but the tubers looked pretty ropy. I've picked up a few Pentland Javelin  to fill a bit of the spare space adn I'll leave the rest for either my true potato seed experimentals (if I get any to grow this year) or else the space will go to another pumpkin.... But for next year I'll make a list form here of stuff to try... I'm hoping that I get some decent sized spuds of Yetholm Gypsy because last year (from pots) it cropped decently and tastes fabulous baked, even though I frequently needed three of them..... Javelin does produce fabulous baking potatoes quite early.... but you have to treat it as a late second early or early main to get the bigger tubers for baking......

[Kleftiwallah]

There is the old theory that if you want fewer, but larger spuds, remove all but one shoot on the seed spud.        8)

Cheers,     Tony.

[goodlife]

Tony..that is not only a theory but true...as well as giving 'plants' wider growing space.
There is lot of growing growing conditions that can/will affect the size of the tuber, but you need rigt variety to start with that has the potential for delivering large 'goods'.

[JENIAN]

There is the old theory that if you want fewer, but larger spuds, remove all but one shoot on the seed spud.        8)

Cheers,     Tony.

Thats the way forward for large tubers :D

[gavinjconway]

Chris - my FIL only grows Sante and they are great to bake.. dont over-crowd and they will grow loads of largies..

[manicscousers]

Big kestrels and one we left in that went massive  ;D

[chriscross1966]

Hmmm.. might have to go find some Kestrels or Sante then... the TPS ought to go in pots anyway to help keep each new line seperate until I've got some results for them...

[kt.]

Kestrel without question.  Good storers too.

[Deb P]

Winston also grow to a really good sized potato, also support the Kestrel crew....