I was at the plot before 7am today to clear all the spuds where the foliage has been dead for a while.
First out was Valour - won't bother again. Hardly any spuds, all very small - very poor yield altho no pest damage at all.
Next Lady Christl. Lovely big oval spuds - all very clean, no pest damage at all, and a very good crop. Good baking size. On next years list.
Desiree - a good red spuds, again, lovely big spuds, baking size, no pest damage and a very good yield.
Sante,excellent, a real mix, some whoppers, some golf balls, but no damage at all, very clean, very round and a big yield.
I still have pink fir, edzell blue, Cara, ratte and another I can't remember to dig, but their foliage is still green and healthy so they can stay put.
Something I have to consider is the lack of water. My spuds receive no extra water other than the rain they receive, and the ground, altho London clay in places, is very stony and free draining. I dug down 2 spades deep today and the soil was like dust! Valour must need more water to bulk up.
I can't report back on flavours of the spuds, but mum will be having the valour tomorrow and we are having a barby tonite so I imaging the whopping Santes will be baked.
My first earlies were International Kidney - good and waxy, as I like them, so I will probably continue with these. 2nd earlies - Valor, generally pleased, decent size, although a shade tasteless. Not certain yet whether to have these again, when there are so many other varieties to choose.
Desiree - small from the lack of rain. Not sure why I keep on with these.
Cara - not big this year, again due to the lack of rain, but they seem to do reasonably well on our soil, so I will continue with these.
Next year? Anya will be on my list if I can get any tubers. No other decisions made yet.
I'm on my way to dig up my pentland javelins - I've not had a huge amount per plant, but they do seem to be a decent size. They've been very good baked and roasted, but disappointing when boiled (turned to mush in pan). I've not watered mine either.
Noticed when I was digging up tea last night that a couple were full of holes and hollowed out - slugs maybe ? Foliage has been dying back for 3 weeks so will lift them all today (where to store them aaagh).
Desiree foliage still looks OK, not peeked at any yet.
Next year I want to grow some kestrel and fir apple.
Early for Desiree, Emma?
Had My Epicure, Red Dukes and Foremost out so far... In declining yeild order from poor to pathetic... may go out and try some more like the Anya where the tops have died back...
???
Charlotte - Late and a poor yield, but that was this year, a great potato will grow again next year.
Kestrel - Late and small in size, will give them a miss.
Picasso - Good yield, good size and the flavour was OK, will give them ago next year.
Pink Fir Apple - Dug one plant up so as to be able to comment, at the moment poor yield and really small, but it's still early, so still hoping. Wanted to try Anya this year but was unable to get any tubers, does anyone know if there is a problem with this variety?
Lady Christl - relatively small but perfect. Great taste. I'd grow again.
Orla - great yield, good size, great taste but lots of slug damage.
Kestrel - still digging and looking good. Large and tasty.
Roseval and Pink Fir Apple still to go.
We are coming to the end of our first earlies "International Kidney", and were pleasantly surprised as we didn't have many expectations - they wouldn't chit and were soft and mouldy looking when they were planted, but they turned out great! They have a lovely white skin and are very flavoursome. Our main crop are Maris Peer which we have yet to dig up, so not sure how they have turned out yet. On this years experience will definitely do Internation Kidney again next year. busy_lizzie
I've grown maris peer as a second early and they have been wonderful. I will certainly be growing them again next year.
This probably sounds like a really silly questions but how do you know how many to plant?
I'm thinking ahead to next year, there's 2 adults and a child to feed and I'm starting to wonder how much to buy. Any advice would be brill
Is Ulster Prince a variety only available r4ound West Lancs, although common round here I have not seen them advertised elsewhere. Good all purpose spud.
I grow every year and always been good.
Sounds as though there is a Northern Ireland connection?
Only had first earlies so far and not finished them. 2nd earlies have died back and I might dig some of those for roasting or chips later (Kestrel). Of the first earlies, the Duke of Yorks so far have been poor yield but no damage. Some are still green though so leaving those till later so hopefully better yield there. Good taste but so far not on next years list because of yield. Maris Bard have given a better yield but have been invaded by wireworm so although I like the taste, texture and yield, off the list for a couple of years until I am free of the worm.
Still got Maris Bard, King Eds, Valour and Romano to try.
The Ulster series do well in the damp so apart from Lancs aren't widely grown in UK.. I like Chieftan. Don't expect anything off Pink Fir yet as they are a late main,... day length sensitive and don't bulk up until the days shorten...
;D
You never plant the right amount BBB as things like earthing up and amount of rain are very variable... I just plant more... we've never managed to get through the year without buying some in May!!!!
;D
BBB -- as a guide?
Baby boo bah, when it comes to estimating seed potatoes, I hazard that my bag of seed will increase eightfold. Some people may hazard tenfold, but my yield is less reliable. Therefore, if you were to plant a 3kg bag of seed potatoes, you could estimate getting about 25kg ie a half hundredweight back. This yield is skewed to higher quantities for maincrops, but it is only to give you a feel for amounts. Hope this helps :)
Really good topic!
I've dug up so far:
Foremost: Gorgeous potatoes, some had scabs and slug damage but yeild was not too bad. Would grow them again for their beautiful flavour.
Pentlant Javelin: Very poor yeild, had only a few meals out of 2.5kg seed potatoes. They were very difficult to clean too. Flavour is just ordinary.
Maris Peer: Uniform, smooth, round and very clean. Yeild was fine. Taste wise they are fine, maybe slightly more flourly than Foremost.
Like others have said they seem to have suffered from dryness.
I have Anya and Pink Fur Apple still in the soil. Really looking forward to them. :)
Edited to add: I steamed some Maris Peer potatoes last night for my tea. They were very waxy this time, really nice. My husband said it was the best one we've had so far. I wonder if leaving potatoes in the soil longer improves the texture and flavour?
I haven't got room for more than a few spuds but this year I grew Swift an extra early variety in tubs, they were a bit late due to the weather this spring but they were suberb - wonderful flavour & a good yield for tubs. Will certainly grow them again next year.
Early, yes Tim, but the foliage has been gone for weeks now and so I wanted to get them out before the rain as I figured if it warms up again, the spuds might start to regrow and be no good.
Orla, thanks grawc, Orla is one of the others I still have in the ground to come up.
I grew
Pentlin Javelin first early and thought I would have more different sizes from marbles to small.
Maris Peer 2nd early same as first, both broke up when cooked.
Still to pull PFApple and I think maris piper - very interested to see the results. I didn't water any of my plants.
I will be trying didn't types next year.
Maris Peer - less holey than the bards but still a little holey - taste good and firmer that the bards too. I meant to dig some Kestrels for roast but got the wrong row ::) so had them steamed instead.
2 potato patches in entirely the wrong places for this year's weather - only get water when it rains! so expecting a better crop next year when I move the beds.
So far, Foremost & Kestrel are up. Poor yield, bit of scab on the Kestrels but nothing much. No slug damage at all. Will be tasting them both today. Arran Pilot is ready to lift, with Desiree, Cara and PFA still growing strongly.
Across the Board, little slug damage. The drought??
But are we not a little premature in making our list? So many varieties yet to mature? Much will have been forgotten by October - or even Christmas - when they are assessed??
Quote from: tim on August 14, 2006, 10:25:06
But are we not a little premature in making our list?
Fair comment Tim, but I have finished eating my first earlies, and steadily chomping my way through the 2nds ... Also, our site seed and potato order has to be in by the end of October so that it can be placed and the seeds received before Christmas (hopefully). The potatoes are received as normal in February, but by placing a bulk order, we get the benefit of excellent pricing and quality deliveries to all the sites in our City.
Hi, I've grown potatoes in pots for the last 3 years (limited garden space and no allotment sadly :( ) and varieties this year have been; Belle de Fontenay (supposed to be maincrop but foliage died back really early so ended up being first - small crop and small potatoes but a terrific flavour and would grow again), Epicure (flourier than I expected, I prefer a waxy potato but my OH prefers floury so they were quite a hit with a decent yield) and British Queen (incredibly floury - turned to mush very quickly in pan but spared the executioner's axe because they are fantastic roasted). I've still to pick Golden Wonder, but the lilac flowers have been good! Also ordered a selection of heritage micro plants but they didn't arrive until end July!!! One has died and the other four are growing on in small pots but whether I'll be able to keep them over the winter to crop next year, I've no idea!
Cheers, Iain
PS - not sure about next year, like to try new varieties so will be noting your recommendations - International Kidney is a definite possibility :)
Premature indeed Tim, but as you know, with no way of watering my spuds, most of them have died right back, so I am digging them before they start to grow again, before slugs move in as the weather dampens, and whilst I have the time. The Pink fir and edzell blue still have green foliage, so they are staying put, the Orla and Cara are down by my shed in the shade, and they were planted at least 3 weeks later, so they are still in flower and will stay put until autumn.
I fancy international kidney also as you all seem to rave about it. I will have to get my hands on some seaweed like the Jersey growers used to, to try to recreate that amazing new potato flavour.
Take the point, Curry!
Not much chance of getting seaweed here in landlocked Coventry, so I just muddle along as best as I can. The only help the spuds get is some BF&B ...
i got the 'no hassels' pack from thompson and morgan which offered 6 kinds of disease resistant potatoes (13£ for 60 tubers). this is the first year i didn't get blight so i guess they work!
Collection comprises:
Orla (First Early) - excellent for new potatoes, roasting, wedges and jacket potatoes (some got too big!)
Romano (Second Early) - my favorites so far. good for roasting or potatoe wedges
Sante (Early Maincrop) - died back really really early. dug some up tonight for dinner.
Cara (Late Maincrop)
Valor (Late Maincrop)
Sarpo Axona (Late Maincrop)
The rest are still in the ground growing away....
Orla (first early), excellent cropped well in tunnel and outside and cooked well. Will go for these again
Catriona (second early) look pretty with purple eyes but very disappointing, low yield and turns to mush if you boil, (the surface explodes off and it disintegrates); had to roast them to use then.
Robinta (main) and Cara (main) looking good so far, I stuck a few in the tunnel that were left over and they have yielded well and cook properly
Pink Fir Apples not ready yet.
I finally got round to digging some of my Duke of Yorks today, after trying a few some time back and finding nothing there. They're fine. Cara died back weeks ago, and is highly unlikely to produce anything. Charlotte is still growing.
I'm finding that with my DoYs Robert - bloody late first earlies - a new potato classification.
as a veg newbie, with a brand new, semi weeded lottie, which potatoes would you recommend for yields & flavour for my first spud growing attempts?
I was looking at a couple of Thompson & Morgan collections, both cost £13.49 for 10 tubers each of 6 varieties (see below) do they sound like nice ones, or should I just buy one variety from each grouping instead?
'heirloom' collection
Red Duke of York (First Early)
Sharpes Express (First Early)
Catriona (Second Early)
International Kidney (Second Early/Early Maincrop)
Arran Victory (Late Maincrop)
Golden Wonder (Late Maincrop)
'Beginners' collection
Rocket (First Early)
Pentland Javelin (First Early)
Lady Christl (First Early/Second Early)
Kestrel (Second Early)
Picasso (Early Maincrop)
Desiree (Early Maincrop
What do you think?
Our first year of allotment/spuds: we watered at least weekly after the first month (thinking London warmth and very free draining soil). Pentland Javelins gave a good crop, the tops fell over in July so we took them out then. Same problem as others have mentioned - flavour OK but tendency to go mushy when boiled. even fractionally too long. Best to start to cook from cold water?
Pink Firs tops are looking patchy brown. Dug up three plants last week for very little return - hoping leaving the rest longer will be more productive.
Hi
I would agree as a newbie to get the pack. As you dont know what will do well in your soil.
I planted simular variatys to the plot holder beside me. He had no problems i got wireworm and blight!
Laveviewallotment
I did well at the potato fair in Dulwich and got 50 tubers for £7.50. They had 83 types to choose from in January. See if there's a fair around by you. Liked Ulster Chieftan and very fond of Romano. Belle de Fontenay also nice.
I think I did one of those sorts of packs last year Geordie Vik, and the only rubbish one for my site were the Golden Wonder spuds. Hardly any at all! I personally think it is good to try several different types because different spuds will work okay for you, when they could be poop on my site in arid Essex. All the spuds on the beginners collection are winners on my site and they are all varieties I grow again and again.
Red Duke of York - excellent yield with some slug damage.
Wilja - poor yield this year ,my fault as I planted near trees - no slug damage as usual.
Epicure - good yield with some slug damage.
Pink Fir Apple still to come.
As usual Wilja is first on the team sheet for 2007 - superb flavour and top slug resistance.
Quote from: Squashfan on September 07, 2006, 15:37:39
I did well at the potato fair in Dulwich and got 50 tubers for £7.50. They had 83 types to choose from in January.
Wow, sounds fabulous! I'll definitely visit the fair next year! ;D
I had my Anya potatoes and they were fab. Would grow them again, I think.
Our situation is similar to curry's re the prices for bulk ordering.
EJ, we don't water potatoes anyway and didn't this year either even tho it's been so dry.
Two varieties we tried for the first time this year were Yukon Gold which we are definitely going to go for again next year and Adora (which were a freebie sample and said to be Low Carbohydrate) which again was really tasty and we will try to get for next year. The other early we will grow again (and again!) is Lady Christl.
Our Wilja and Crystal(?) were not too impressive so will probably revert to one of the Maris types and for the maincrops will stick to Maris Piper and probably King Edwards tho we have still to lift the Desiree.
Well on, digging up our second earlies Maris Peer now, but what a disappointment, okay flavour but very small. Can only assume it might be because of the very dry conditions this year. So will be looking around for another second early to try next year, but definitely sticking with International Kidney which was a great success. busy_lizzie
I don't remember exactly what happened but I only got as far as planting all the first earlies, and a couple of the second earlies plus sarpo. A small two-legged pest removed my labels. Hubby seems pleased with the 2 sarpo varieties - no slug damage, a touch of scab, large and were tasty for chips. He wants to grow them again next year (think last year, we said they were a bit tasteless).
Will probably do potato day next year at Ryton.
I had a bit of a problem with my plot being waterlogged for some months earlier this year, so the potatoes were late getting in the ground. I did have two varieties of sarpo but one of them died only I'm not sure which. :-[ I am very impressed with the one that survived though, no slug damage at all. Especially when you look at something that was planted on the same plot and has been riddled with the little beasties.
So I think I'll be growing both types of Sarpo again and anything else in the T&M catalogue that says it has good slug resistance. The Ulster Cheiftain looks good.