This was my first year growing potatoes and I am a convert. So easy and *so* tasty. :P
I tried three earlies, all in buckets and bags:
1. Lady Christl - really tasty, creamy and smooth, delicious just boiled with a nob of butter. Our favourites, will definitely grow these again next year.
2. Swift - nice flavour, good size. Liked these best cold in potato salad. They also came up really clean, hardly even needed washing!
3. Rocket - earliest of the three and highest yields, but flavour a bit nondescript. :(
All three did better as single plants in buckets than two or three to a big bag... I was expecting it to be the other way round.
Which earlies did you grow this year and what do you think of them? (is it too soon to be planning next spring's spuds already?? ::))
International kidney here (Jersey 'Royals'), excellent flavour, although yield is not massive, two plants worth to a dinner at the moment. I am also keen to know what other varieties give good flavour, as that is my criterion for earlies. I have Ambo for my second earlies, not tried them yet.
I liked Lady Christl too. And Red Duke of York was superb, especially roasted (not at all what you'd expect from a 'new' potato). Amazing colour AND flavour!
Foremost and Mimi are both very very good, the first yields very well and cooks equally well with good flavour. The second has great flavour but low yields. However it is ideally suited to growing in tubs with low compact foliage.
But like all these things the answers will be very subjective and what I like another will not....
Jerry
Quote from: sandersj89 on June 27, 2006, 14:46:29
But like all these things the answers will be very subjective and what I like another will not....
That is so true concerning the taste test Jerry. The other factor which will alter things is the ground the crop is grown in, even on our site, different plots give varying results due to differing management regimes.
we've grown Accent, Foremost and Winston - only had the Accent and they were really good - nice and nutty
grew accent, adora, winston and red duke of york. OH and i did a tasting test and we both like the red duke of york best :D
Rocket
Mimi give loads of small round reds and taste fabulous. I also like Ratte.
It was our first year growing potatoes, too, but I'm far from being a convert based on experience so far. :(
The good news is that the Vales Emerald that we planted are delicious. The bad news is that even after 15 weeks the yields are very small. We've got some so-called second earlies and maincrop varieties too, so maybe they'll be better. But given the amount of space they take up, I'm not sure potatoes will be on our plan for 2007 at all!
I grew Premier and RdoY in the first early class, but actually harvested Ambo, Edzell Blue and British Queen (second earlies) first.
RdoY has had excellent yields and is mighty tasty and is my favourite first early.
Edzell Blue have been my favourite overall though, great roasted.
Quote from: Melbourne12 on June 27, 2006, 19:29:00
It was our first year growing potatoes, too, but I'm far from being a convert based on experience so far. :(
The good news is that the Vales Emerald that we planted are delicious. The bad news is that even after 15 weeks the yields are very small. We've got some so-called second earlies and maincrop varieties too, so maybe they'll be better. But given the amount of space they take up, I'm not sure potatoes will be on our plan for 2007 at all!
Don't give up on the spuds, there are so many varieties that you may have better luck with. Their space to yield rate can and should be excellent.
Went to a Potato Fair in February and bought 10 tubers of about 10 different varieties - not all earlies, but so far have tried Rocket - very early, good crop, not a brilliant taste, but cooked well without boiling away and now eating Accent - very tasty yellow flesh that eats well hot, cold and fried. I think it's either Premier or Foremost next - anyway I'm looking forward to them
Had a great crop from Rocket but found the flavour to be a bit bland.
Only me who feels this though so may be due to too many destroyed taste buds!
Mike
I've been steaming Red Duke of York, and they are firm and delicious, and not a bad yield for earlies. Steaming is at least as fast as boiling, and thy don't lose flavour into the water or collapse.
Didn't RdoY get a very bad press, here, last year? I wonder what's made the difference this year.
Quote from: Curry on June 27, 2006, 14:41:28
I have Ambo for my second earlies, not tried them yet.
Grew those as main crop last year - had some tubers given to me - they were delicious. I hope that you enjoy yours.
Quote from: amphibian on June 27, 2006, 21:54:35
Didn't RdoY get a very bad press, here, last year? I wonder what's made the difference this year.
Think they actually got a big thumbs up on here last year. I was going to get some on the basis of the recommendations but my supplier did not have any so I get DoY instead.
Quote from: redclanger on June 27, 2006, 22:01:57
Quote from: amphibian on June 27, 2006, 21:54:35
Didn't RdoY get a very bad press, here, last year? I wonder what's made the difference this year.
Think they actually got a big thumbs up on here last year. I was going to get some on the basis of the recommendations but my supplier did not have any so I get DoY instead.
You are right, it was 2004 that they got a bad press.
Just dug some DoY - in a word pathetic. The size and number of potatoes is dismal. I know they taste really nice but I willnot be growing them again. In my book yied is not everything but these potatoes are just taking the biscuit. >:(
First time for me too; we grew Amorosa which gave a good variety of sizes, were very versatile (boiled, roasted, salad, potato & pea curry from an Indian friend - best of all yum yum). Quite nutty, not that far away from Fir Apples, with enough character to still have their own taste even in the curry. Between 7 & 8 pounds from a 8ish foot row. One (single spud) had scabs on it, absolutely no other probs.
I think we only got them because some of the more popular ones had run out but I will look for these again next year I think.
I dug one of my DOY this evening; I might as well not have bothered. They need some good solid rain and time. Maybe the end of next month. Or maybe it's a sign that dukes, lords, royalty, and all that stuff have all passed their sell-by date?
;D
Hopefully my King Eds will be alright though. Can't help it being one of my favourites.
Hi everyone,
I dug a few potatoes at the weekend.To be honest, mine need a few more weeks yet. What struck me was just how dry the soil was and, there didn't seem to be any slug damage.It's probably wishful thinking,but I'm hoping that all this dry weather is keeping the slug population down.
I still think It's worth growing Red Duke Of York for the colour alone.I grew a few white D.O.Y last year and they were a total waste of space for me too.
That's one of the reasons I love growing spuds.There are so many to choose from and you never really know what you're going to get until you dig them up.
All The Best-Marky :)
I have grown Aaron Pilot for the second year running, which we like very much.
Have tried Foremost and Pentland Javelin for the first time this year - Foremost has excellent taste, texture but Pentland Javelin has not been so good on taste.
First time growing potatoes first earlies Pentland Javelin and I was disappointed potatoes all different sizes and they broke up a little when cooking. Taste wise nothing to boost about growing your own. Hoping my salad and 2nd earlies will be better.
Quote from: Rosyred on June 29, 2006, 14:59:02
First time growing potatoes first earlies Pentland Javelin and I was disappointed potatoes all different sizes and they broke up a little when cooking. Taste wise nothing to boost about growing your own. Hoping my salad and 2nd earlies will be better.
I grew Pentland Javelin as well. I agree about the different sizes (everything from marble to cricket ball) but I thought the texture was great - quite firm - and the taste was lovely. Mind you, this is the first time I've ever grown my own spuds so maybe I'm not the most objective person to ask...
Cheers,
Rob ;)
I am following this thread as I am also looking for the best tasting spuds. The quantity does not matter to me so much as taste. I have just started harvesting my pentland javelin and I have to agree the taste is not good. Very bland and pale looking. I have pentlland crown as main crop and I hope they taste better.
I had first earlies, second earlies, late earlies, mid-crop, early mid-crop, late mid-crop, early lates, mid-lates, late- lates and a 'surprise' batch of 'guess the season spuds'!
I was chitting them in the greenhouse and then it fell down. Potatoes all OVER the place so we chucked them in anyway ;D
I quite like taking a risk and digging under a tatty plant ;D It's one of my favourite harvesting jobs!
This last week I've had the equivalent of 30 cat-testicle- sized tubers and about 40 sized according to the nuts of a bovine .
Trixie ;) XX
Just dug up and cooked the first lot of Premier - reasonable crop, mixed sizes, not much taste and they boiled away a bit, but will probably steam well and make excellent fried potatoes.
Rocket: Tasteless. Good crop. Won't grow again.
Swift: taste not much better than Rocket. Slightly lower yield. W.G.A.
Lady Christl: 7out of 10 for flavour. Nice mashed with butter. Yield slightly less.
Sharpe's Express: Maybe slightly less tasty than Lady C. but floury. Decent yield.
Still to try: Red Duke, Foremost, Maris Bard, Anya, Carlingford, Maris Piper, PFA.