Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Kendy on July 22, 2008, 14:55:39

Title: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: Kendy on July 22, 2008, 14:55:39
When I got my allotment in April, one of the guys kindly gave me some surplus seed potatoes.  Forgot to ask what type they were, planted them and they have all grown nicely. 

On some of them the flowers have died off so I started to harvest a couple of tubers which were nice white spuds.  The next tuber was good sized red spuds.   

Harvested a couple more tubers last night and they turned out to be Pink Fir Apple according to my plot neighbour.  Looking at pictures on the web they look the right size but most websites seem to suggest October harvesting.  Have I pulled them too early - will they not be any good ?   ???

Should have taken a pic - I'll see what I can do tonight.
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: Barnowl on July 22, 2008, 15:23:45
PFA are late mains so it does seem early to harvest them.

If the haulms have died back already they might be Anya (same colour as PFA, not smooth but not as knobbly) which are second earlies and harvest round about now.
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: Kendy on July 22, 2008, 15:54:49
I guess this is the problem taking spares that you need to know what they are !

Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: Barnowl on July 22, 2008, 16:30:26
Post a picture and we can have a guess  :)
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: Kendy on July 24, 2008, 00:55:02
Here is a pic of the potatoes:-

(http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k325/Kendadj/DSC00326.jpg)
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: Kendy on July 24, 2008, 00:55:42
Yes - it worked ! My 1st picture post !
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: saddad on July 24, 2008, 08:00:41
Glad to see you have got Pic posting sorted Kendy... they are Anya, a PFA X Desiree cross.... almost as nice as PFA. If you had real PFA there would be no tubers at all yet.
:)
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: Kendy on July 24, 2008, 09:49:11
Many thanks.

So OK to harvest and eat now  ?
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: Barnowl on July 24, 2008, 10:03:31
Agree they're Anya (not PFA) and absolutely ok to harvest now. 

As it happens we had our first Anyas last week - one of my favourite 'new' spuds.

(They roast well too: no need to parboil first just slice in half and pop into a preheated roasting pan with oil.)
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: Kendy on July 24, 2008, 10:24:24
Thanks everyone - can't wait to try them !
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: tim on July 24, 2008, 11:39:22
Dad - who am I to argue?  Try to stop me. I just love the 'interaction'.

So, just being b****y minded - herewith today's PFA - just for you!!

OK - they have a long way to go, but they are enjoyable even now.

They will eventually get to the 2nd pic. And that IS a banana!
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: Kendy on July 24, 2008, 11:57:17
They're not the prettiest of potatoes - there's a couple of real ugly blighters in your left hand picture  ;D
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: tim on July 24, 2008, 12:09:29
It's all in the mind??

No problem - just break them off. And, remember, no peeling necessary!
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: saddad on July 24, 2008, 13:20:34
Well I'm impressed Tim, when did you plant them? I've never managed to get tubers that early... perhaps I will try them again next year!
;D
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: tim on July 25, 2008, 06:26:58
I don't want them this early, Dad - just happened! Useful though, since all the salady earlies are finished.

Planted 3 April, with the other 11 varieties.
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: saddad on July 25, 2008, 06:41:20
Even so I'm still impressed... Sod's Law if you wanted them this early they wouldn't oblige...
Just dug up a row of Epicure and a row of Maris Peer as we have friends up for the weekend...
:)
Title: Re: Pink Fir Apple
Post by: Barnowl on July 25, 2008, 12:19:52
Early Mains planted late March

Just emptied a bag of Salad Blue. They definitely could have been left in for longer, haulms very strong with highly developed root system,  but the Maya Gold (also an early main) in the bed are dying back. Good crop of decent sized Belle de Fontenay from a bag (haulms probably died back through lack of water but hard to say whether die back or not)