I'm looking for the tastiest new potato,
i aways grow Maris bard,
did read on the other side (the beeb)that lady chrystl was the best.
so i put in a couple of rows.
what do the people on here think?
Ballydoon, if you can find it, or Epicure... the clue is in the name... been grown since Victorian times.... :)
Keep trying different varieties till you find the one that suits you. I've been growing Duke of York for years, but I'm trying Arran Pilot as well this year.
When does something get considered a salad potato rather than a new potato? Can something like Belle de Fontenay or Charlotte count as a new potato?
Royal Kidney are meant to be good but this is my first year with them. Lady Christl (grown in 2008) were tasty and are on my list to grow again one day but planted more densely as they weren't very productive.
Charlotte is usually considered as 'second early', so it's more like a very early maincrop. Grow it to follow on from the first earlies, and treat it as a maincrop if you want. It's a lovely potato.
Yes Charlotte & Belle are second earlies (and in fact can be left in the ground to get larger), but what about Jersey Royals (aka International Kidney), probably the best known 'new potato': far from being a first early they're actually a main crop potato (planted densely?) harvested early before they develop to their full size.
So how is a new potato defined? Small, floury, waxy, only suitable for boiling in their skin (that rules out Duke of York - they fall apart when boiled).......
belle de fontenay are maincrop,charlotte are second early.Arran pilot are good,this year I have also planted lady christl and pentland javelin so I`ll let you know.
Tom
Agreed - Belle de Fontenay are early main according to some, but very early might be a better description :)
No-one's really answered the question about what makes a potato "new" I suspect it is simply 'small and early' irrespective of crop classification.
epicure for me but one of the old blokes swears by lady chrystl for reliability and sheer amount.
lady christelle for me without a doubt
If you like Charlottes I'd reccomend giving Mayan Gold a try. Grew a few as a trial last year and was impressed - growing them in proper quantities against Maris Bard this year.
surely a new potato is is just that a new one, just grown, lifted right away
skin paper thin and you can rub it of. theydont stay new.
a salad potato is a type, they are small, waxy, and not typicaly new.
thats what i think anyway
lbb
We have always grown Pentland Javelin, but this year are giving Rocket a try
Quote from: littlebabybird on April 29, 2009, 07:51:47
surely a new potato is is just that a new one, just grown, lifted right away
skin paper thin and you can rub it of. theydont stay new.
a salad potato is a type, they are small, waxy, and not typicaly new.
thats what i think anyway
lbb
Seems a pretty good definition to me - especially the point about the skin.
it depends if you're a waxy fan or not. Personally I'm not.
My problem is I tried 11 varieties last year and liked all except one - and even that one was OK :).
I agree that waxy ones shouldn't be called 'new' even though they might be available at the same time.
I noticed Jersey Royals are in the shops - at astronomical prices.
I really like Dunluce. Grew them last year and they were delicious..
http://www.wcf-phoenix.co.uk/potatopicker/variety.asp?VarietyID=117
Growing them again this year and hoping for a good crop..
:) Maris Bard for me / shades x
I'd say my favourites are Ulster Chieftain and Red Duke of York.