potatoes

[Dads Army]

 I like so many of us around the allotments,have had(" to say the least) a bad year, due to numerous problems IE weather slugs not forgetting potato problems, scab/  and my problem blight So this year  I'm going to concentrate more on planting earlies instead of my usual middles and lat es. So  I'm asking if any body can re comend earlie potato's that would keep longer in the ground without having to  lifting them in a special time frame IE may June July.

[Dads Army]

[rugbypost]

Not a good year for me either with my pots, onions went to seed as well as my leeks but its all sent to try us. I have been planting these three varietys for the past couple of years and the hold well Carlingford, Charlotte,and Nadine. But to be honest with you this year I am going to try Sarpo mira spent a lot of money lasy year and I lost them to blight and as it is air born you have no chance so going to rest and fed the soil and try these in a few bags not even sure what they taste like. Good luck and have a great New Year try JBA Seed Potatoes good price first class product 

[kt.]

I was harvesting Winston until early August.  My trial variety which proved successful.  A huge baking spud too.  Never stored them though, just dug them as we wanted them.

[caroline7758]

I'm thinking of not bothering with spuds at all this year. Mine were rubbish and they're cheap to buy so may use the space for something else.

I heard Bob Flowerdew on GQT saying that he's going to have a row of bags instead of one of his rows of potatoes this year as the ones he grew in bags did a lot better than those in the ground. this year.

[Dads Army]

Thanks for all your replies. Just after I posted my message I got talking to a Gardening friend who has an allotment in the Area that I live. He said that they had the same trouble with Blight on the allotment he has, but himself had no had Blight problems. But He planted  for second Earlies Orla, these he also used has Early Maincrop. and for his Maincrop he did as mentioned Sarpo Mira which evidently belong to the same Family has Orla. None of the others had planted these types of Potato's. So know I have ordered some, and hope I have the same results that he had. Happy Newyear to all and Happy Gardening. Dads Army.  

[Unwashed]

Rocket are one of the earliest earlies, but I very much prefer them as a second-early when their tasts and texture has developed and for me they've lasted nicely in the ground well into the season, certainly through to the end of July.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Most earlies will grow on happily; the difference is that they start tubering ealier than maincrops, and are normally harvested when small.

[manicscousers]

We do Lady chrystl and vanessa as very earlies in the poly, then charlotte, kestrel and desiree, covered against frost.  These are all out of the ground by the end of july . Got a good crop even though the weather was crap 

[davesplot]

I did OK with my potatoes but not as good as if weather had been better. Most varieties effected by blight and lifted early but I had 2 rows of Sarpo Mira, set june/july lifted under soggy condition in Nov and they are fine. Wife loves them, make great chips. Next season it's Sarpo and maybe a few earlies.

[manicscousers]

We have been told there is a 20% shortfall in scottish seed potatoes and that some is still in the ground, don't know how true it is, I'm asking before I order 

[Dads Army]

They did say earlier in the Year, that because of all the bad weather we have had, the potato crops were not faring so well this Year so this could be the reason for the seed shortage. And by the way I have been informed by Wife/Daughter and Neighbour,that they had to cut out numerous bad spots in Potatoes bought from the supermarkets
this Year. So it was not only us that have suffered with potato problems. (and by the above,You can see who doe's the cooking in our house lol.)

[antipodes]

I grew Belle de Fontenay as earlies and I must say they were very good. I still lifted a few of them late in the summer and had no probs with them, the skin just goes a bit tough that's all. I think I will do them again next year.

[Toshofthe Wuffingas]

I popped this question in another forum but as you are discussing spuds here, I'll repeat it.
Despite ordering Lady Chrystl, Kestrel, Charlotte and Foremost already and wondering if I have enough room for them, I saw some Anya in the veggie section of Sainsbury's a couple of days back and temptation won out against better judgement and I bought some. I'll eat some to try them out but intend to plant some too as an experiment.
The thing is, shop spuds may have a retardant sprayed on to them to slow or prevent sprouting. If this is the case, is there some action I can take to reverse or negate the coating?

[daveylamp993]

I Bought Anya spuds from sainsburys last spring,chitted them up,i had good crops from then,i even had some in buckets in the greenhouse late september,they have a lovely nutty taste,try some,they are worth the effort.

[Toshofthe Wuffingas]

Thanks