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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: ninnyscrops on February 03, 2008, 20:26:35

Title: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: ninnyscrops on February 03, 2008, 20:26:35
Grew them last year and sacked them up, haven't got round to using them all and what's left are sprouting away merrily ;D. Can I pass them on or not really a good idea? I shan't be growing them this season and obviously can't put them in the compost heap!
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: saddad on February 03, 2008, 21:05:35
How soft are the tubers? If fairly solid you can knock the shoots off and eat them.. if you have two foot shoots then brown bin them!
;D
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: ninnyscrops on February 03, 2008, 21:18:02
Tubers are fairly firm and the chits are about 3/4 inches long, but to be really honest, they aren't really our type of potato.  Had to grow them and try them tho  :).  Will brown bin then but just seems such a waste  :(
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: Riffster on February 03, 2008, 23:57:13
One of my favourite eating salad pots !!!!!
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: cornykev on February 04, 2008, 18:19:08
Lovely chips.   :P :P :P     ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: tim on February 04, 2008, 19:00:51
For Heaven's sake - persevere!

So great for Salad, Roast, Chips - just get used to them!!

If boiling, cook then peel.
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: Sparkly on February 04, 2008, 19:04:31
I am glad these are getting a good review as I have just bought a 3kg bag of pink fir seeds!
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: asbean on February 04, 2008, 22:33:40
We love them, but find peeling them a chore. So we tend not to use them, and have decided not to grow them this year, the first year without PFAs.
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: ninnyscrops on February 04, 2008, 22:45:00
Think that was my problem Tim - but might have a go cooking in their skins and peel afterwards, with what I have left.
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: Hyacinth on February 04, 2008, 22:46:59
....and I always find that my seed PFA's don't chit :-\

I've not bought mine yet, but for me PFAs are a must-have.

Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: asbean on February 04, 2008, 23:09:37
They do chit, but they do everything slower than anything else. They are also the last to show shoots as well, you're just about to give up on them, all the rest have lovely growth, and then suddenly, with a magnifying glass = = there's a leaf!!!! 
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: ninnyscrops on February 04, 2008, 23:12:19
My seed pots last year only had the smallest of chits when I put them in the ground - but they did produce an abundance of potatoes - hence so many left over! Not sure I got them all out of the ground either so I'm sure there will be one or two popping up through the onions this year  :)
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: Baaaaaaaa on February 05, 2008, 00:17:22
I only ever grow PFA and Red Dukes. Never peel, just a quick scrub and into the pan / fryer.

Would never be without them, just got a few Kgs left now, Hopefully they'll last for a couple of weeks.

Normally I buy a few and replant a few, but this year, because of the blight, I'm restocking completely.

Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: tim on February 05, 2008, 07:33:19
They are SO easy to peel when cooked.

Or don't!!

Yes, the sprouts are tiny. But the haulms are HUGE!!

And the tubers are not too bad?



Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: twinkletoes on February 05, 2008, 07:39:47
I never peel mine - I think the skin is thin enough not to bother. 
Twinkletoes
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: Barnowl on February 05, 2008, 09:50:29
Leaving the skins on, a quick parboil to get the remaining mud off  ;D,  slice in half lengthwise, toss in a bit of oil and roast.
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: Old bird on February 05, 2008, 12:07:36
I wasn't going to bother this year.  I have quite a slug problem - but you have made them sound so great - I have grown them off and on for years - that I will have to try them again!!  I think I will get some new seed potatoes as the last lot were blighted. 

I still have a sack of them on the floor of my garage - which due to junk being added to the garage - haven't been looked at for a couple of months.  I will go home at lunchtime and dig them out for this evening - thanks supper sorted!!

Old Bird!
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: chickadoodle on February 05, 2008, 13:00:28
Went to the potato fayre at Whitchurch this year and there is a variety called Anya which is a desire x PFA.  It produces a similar tasting spud to PFA good for salads but it comes along earlier when you are still eating lots of salads.  Best of all it doesn't have all the knobbly bits!  Needless to say we bought some to try!
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: asbean on February 05, 2008, 13:18:30
How did you find Whitchurch, Chicka?  We went on the saturday morning and spent longer queuing than buying spuds. One queue to have your purchases checked, then queue again to pay.  Still quite a good choice, though.
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: chickadoodle on February 05, 2008, 13:24:43
Yes a great choice but I agree about the queing.  However, late Saturday and Sunday were apparently much quieter and they still had most of the potato varieties there.  Shame about the cost of a cuppa too.  That's what happens when the local pub do it, clueless, they even let the urn run out!
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: tim on February 05, 2008, 15:32:19
Anya, yes but PFA, being later, is still in store, & they are by no means only for salads.

But when they are, skins off is more attractive?
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: Barnowl on February 05, 2008, 16:00:20
Quote from: chickadoodle on February 05, 2008, 13:00:28
Went to the potato fayre at Whitchurch this year and there is a variety called Anya which is a desire x PFA.  It produces a similar tasting spud to PFA good for salads but it comes along earlier when you are still eating lots of salads.  Best of all it doesn't have all the knobbly bits!  Needless to say we bought some to try!

I tried some Anya from Sainsbury's,. We really liked them: they boiled nicely and also roasted well (cut lengthways) - so very similar to PF's, perhaps a bit nuttier - but earlies so unlikely to store well. Have bought some seed pots and will try in containers as well as bed.
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: saddad on February 05, 2008, 16:12:17
I've been growing Anya since they came out... they are an early main, dug up by the end of July... just starting to sprout in store now. Not quite as nice as PFA in my opinion!
;D
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: Plot69 on February 05, 2008, 20:23:24
Quote from: chickadoodle on February 05, 2008, 13:00:28
Went to the potato fayre at Whitchurch this year and there is a variety called Anya which is a desire x PFA.

I grew Anya last year ad they were absolutely gorgeous. I was so impressed I've gone for thoroughbred PFA's and Desiree this year.

After reading all these PFA reviews I now know why my Missus wants me to grow them... The not having to peel them!
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple potatoes
Post by: cornykev on February 05, 2008, 20:32:42
A good scrub cut in 1/2 or 1/3s length ways and straight into the chip fryer, and I still have quite a lot left in my lottie shed.  ;D ;D ;D