cutting the tops of early potatoes

[staris]

i've just started to eat my early potatoes last week (rocket) and they were bigger than i expected almost to big ,i had a thought would it be a good idea to cut the tops of the plants and leave them in the ground and just pull them up as i need them.

[staris]

[chriscross1966]

Not an uncommon problem with ROcket..... best grown in pots in the GH for ultra-earlies sown in January/Feb.... oh well doesn't solve your problem so yes, cutting the tops off should "freeze" them ..... BTW, they don't keep very well either, and what little flavour they have disappears soon after lifting... try baking one...

I always grow a few Rocket (and a few Swift too), but the lack of taste is an issue, can't fault them for fast though...

[Aden Roller]

Not an uncommon problem with ROcket..... best grown in pots in the GH for ultra-earlies sown in January/Feb.... oh well doesn't solve your problem so yes, cutting the tops off should "freeze" them ..... BTW, they don't keep very well either, and what little flavour they have disappears soon after lifting... try baking one...

I always grow a few Rocket (and a few Swift too), but the lack of taste is an issue, can't fault them for fast though...

I've lifted rocket this season and wasn't overly impressed with the taste either. Nice size, good texture but lacked the Wow taste of home grown new potatoes. I intend to try a few Charlottes next and see if they are any better.

[chriscross1966]

They will be  :D

[tomatoada]

My Rocket last year were huge, and not much flavour.   So this year I have grown Pixie and Casablanca.   So far I have only harvested Casablanca which are lovely.  I will grow them again next year.  Nice taste and nice size.   My neighbour has grown Pentland Javelin which are also good.  Will include them next year.

[antipodes]

I am growing Belle de Fontenay this year as earlies and I can honestly say that the crop has been fabulous. The ones I am digging up now give a few new potato sized and a couple of BIG ones for each plant :)  They are very easy to peel/scrape and I find the flavour to be excellent. Pan sauteed with herbs, they are delish.
They are all dying back now but I just dig as I need them anyway. Just need to hurry up a bit as I want the space to transplant my Brussel sprouts!!!!

[Stevens706]

Used to grow Rocket but as mentioned they have very little taste, I now grow Arron Pilot and Charlotte, far better

[manicscousers]

We've grown rocket, sharpe's express and swift as earlies in the last few years and weren't impressed by the taste. This year we did vanessa and lady chrystl. The vanessa were the best I've tasted, grown in the poly, just finished them and started on lady c. Not quite as tasty but beats swift any day  :)

[JENIAN]

Used to grow Rocket but as mentioned they have very little taste, I now grow Arron Pilot and Charlotte, far better

Charlotte are very tasty this season ;)

[Flighty]

I'm growing first earlies Vales Emerald, which I grew last year, but haven't lifted them yet.
I'm tending towards not growing any first earlies next year but more Charlottes which have always been an excellent variety.

[Aden Roller]

I'm growing first earlies Vales Emerald, which I grew last year, but haven't lifted them yet.
I'm tending towards not growing any first earlies next year but more Charlottes which have always been an excellent variety.

When / if it stops raining I'm nipping down to lift some Charlotte and looking forward to a tasty tatty. Rocket were better last year than this flavour wise.