Anyone decided on what varieties to grow for next year?
I like JBA Potatoes but they haven't got their new listings up yet although in the forum part is says it'll be soon but not so many varieties as this year.
T&M are listing quite a lot with a few new ones for 2013.
Penard Plants usually have a good range
I'm not sure what's happened to Alan Romans site, seem to be on summer hols still ;D
I've got quite a few tps mini tubers to grow out next year but I'm thinking Kifli, Blue Belle, Nadine and possibly Trixie or Elisabeth?
I find I am getting closer to my 'ideal potatoes', and end up growing less varieties than I used to!
I will stick to Wilco's finest I think, Charlotte, Nadine, Nicola, Kestrel and perhaps one new type to trial.
These varieties have proved to be reliable on my soil with minimal problems, so I'm sticking to what does well, particularly after such a challenging season as we have just had!
Charlotte and Foremost are my regulars and I got a fair crop from both, despite chopping down the foliage in July through blight. We still have a few earlies to cook and then we'll start on the Charlottes. We have something under a cwt of them, certainly more than a half cwt. Foremost had a bit of scab this year. I don't know if that was down to weather or soil - it's a new allotment for me.
As for trying something new; I hear a lot of you enthuse about Kestrel so that will be on my list. I will watch what you all say. What is Lady Christl like?
Lady Christl is a very tasty, yellow, waxy early first early. Crops are not huge but taste is wonderful. I grow it every year - it's my favourite.
Grew a row of eight types of trial spuds this year and I'm still digging those although one that stood out so far was Juilette lovely oval yellow waxy type and 24 spuds under one plant.Will still grow my usuall 4 types Epicure,Charlotte,Wilja,Marris piper and hopefully eight more trial spuds.
Winston as a 1st early - they are an early cropper that can be eaten small, or as baking spuds they grow massive.
Charlotte as a salad spud - my favourite salad spud and I am just down to my last 2 tubers now... harvested over 10 weeks :icon_cheers:
Kestrel as a 2nd early. A large all round potato that stores well into winter so no need for a main crop. :icon_thumright:
Fell in love with Annabel. No scab, nice clean potatoes, good flavour. Best of my earlies and I am still
enjoying the odd one I missed. Managed a good crop before the blight got them. Did not go mouldy in the ground. Top of my list for next year.
Probably Rocket and Kestrel, though Annabel sounds interesting. my practice is to get them in and growing before the blight and slugs strike!
Quote from: Deb P on September 15, 2012, 11:56:31
I find I am getting closer to my 'ideal potatoes', and end up growing less varieties than I used to!
I will stick to Wilco's finest I think, Charlotte, Nadine, Nicola, Kestrel and perhaps one new type to trial.
These varieties have proved to be reliable on my soil with minimal problems, so I'm sticking to what does well, particularly after such a challenging season as we have just had!
Quote from: Deb P on September 15, 2012, 11:56:31
I find I am getting closer to my 'ideal potatoes', and end up growing less varieties than I used to!
I will stick to Wilco's finest I think, Charlotte, Nadine, Nicola, Kestrel and perhaps one new type to trial.
These varieties have proved to be reliable on my soil with minimal problems, so I'm sticking to what does well, particularly after such a challenging season as we have just had!
You have my list! I added Anya, which were very good too. I found there weren't so many per plant this year, but they were all, more or less, a better size.
Rocket for ultra-first earlies in the GH in pots.
Lady Chrystl as a ground-based FE
Edgecote Purple for a 2nd E
My TPS Ratte seedling "Great Western Rodent" as an early main.
Setanta, Cara Pink Fir Apple and Sarpo Mira for mains.... some of this years best spuds have been Sarpo Mira volunteers from last year.
Novelties: Probably COngo, but it's in last-chance saloon really, my own sedling Russian BLush if any tubers survive the winter, it isn't at all blight tolerant.
Maybe's: King Edward (if any of this years crop are actually useable. Yetholm Gypsy.. in a lot of ways my favourite potato but horribly blight sensitive and it attracts slugs almost as badly as Salad BLue.
Experimentals: I've got a bunch of PFAxSarpo seedlings in the GH in pots... if anything comes of them then I'll grow them on...
Definitely nots: Fortyfold... shame, it's a nice potato but horribly susceptible to blight, Vitelotte, don't see the point if I'm growing COngo of having another VIctorian blue kicking around. Highland Burgundy Red, doesn't like my soil much, easily blighted and the slugs like it...
Earlies Casablanca
2nd earlies BF15
Main Mayan Gold.
Rocket as earlies and then a selection of Sarpo Shona, Sarpo Kilfi, Blue Danube and Sarpo Mira for main crops. I was so impressed by the blight resistance of the Sarpo Mira this year and they're good winter spuds too. I'm intrigued as to what the other Sarpo family ones are like.
I might get some Fir Apples or Charlottes too as I love them both - but I've got 80 tubers on order already which by my calculations will be close to enough.
Charlottes for earlies
Cara managed to get reasonable crop even this year (as an insurance i guess just in case)
Mayan Gold as they are the best: mashed (after steaming) or baked with fish (as they quick), just a couple of tomatoes, an onion and a bit white wine.....
Vanessa and lady Chrystl for earlies, Charlottes, then kestrel and desiree, managed to get a good crop from them all by planting early :happy7:
I was really pleased with my spud choices this year.
If I can get those Claustar 2nds/to lates again I will because the harvest of those was brilliant.
And also Pink Fir Apple- they got blighted and were not in for nearly long enough but I have at least a dozen spuds per plant! And the flavour is out of this world. Next year I will put them in much later and really go for it with the bordeaux mixture.
The Belle de Fontenay were very good earlies and I am still digging them up now!!! However if ever I can find again the "Anoe" type that I got as a sample last year, I will get them as they gave really big tasty earlies.
I think I will also go back to the Desiree as they are the most reliable of the later spuds and they keep really well.
PFA's need a long growing season, get them in earlier (adn get busy with the bordeaux mix....)
Top of my list for next year :- Casablanca, Nadine, and Sarpo Mira. They beat the blight and slugs this year and taste excellent with good storage attributes so far. Picasso, Valor, and half of the Desiree went in the pig trough.
I have stayed with Rocket, Kestral and Cara for a good number of years they suit our soil and our likes.
Alan Romans ???????
I tried to log into his site this evening and got Thompson & Morgan ???? Has Alan Romans gone bust or taken over
Just googled and got this:
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/alan-romans
Quote from: laurieuk on October 06, 2012, 10:02:17
I have stayed with Rocket, Kestral and Cara for a good number of years they suit our soil and our likes.
If only I could be that sensible and not get tempted by quirky names and pretty pictures! :happy7:
Quote from: laurieuk on October 06, 2012, 10:02:17
I have stayed with Rocket, Kestral and Cara for a good number of years they suit our soil and our likes.
If only I could be that sensible and not get tempted by quirky names and pretty pictures!
Kestral is brilliant! If only had to grow one it would be that.
Quote from: Morris on October 06, 2012, 23:13:03
Just googled and got this:
http://www.thompson-morgan.com/alan-romans
Shame.
Alan Romans has been "associated" with T +M for a number of years. It looks as though they are now taking all of his potatoes???
I believe it has been a bad year for the growers. Hardly surprising - it's been a bad year full stop. Even Tesco has a sign up apologising for the quality and availability of this year's crop.
I think I will be buying from Ian at JBA if possible or maybe through our local potato days.
I used to buy my potatoes from T&M, Alan Romans or the Ryton potato days, but a couple of years ago I was I'll and didn't order anything and resorted to Wilcos as they were the only shop with any left. The results were so good I have bought the majority from them since. I still get tempted by new varieties though, and give at least one heritage or new to me one a go every year.
Quote from: grawrc on October 07, 2012, 09:12:22
Alan Romans has been "associated" with T +M for a number of years. It looks as though they are now taking all of his potatoes???
But his seed site is still up, but under another name. have they "branded" his name I wonder? I get a lot of seed from them, They are cheap and friendly service. Hope we will still be able to get seed (i can't get spuds from the UK anyway).