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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: squeezyjohn on July 14, 2016, 11:18:50

Title: Harlequin potatoes ... what a harvest!
Post by: squeezyjohn on July 14, 2016, 11:18:50
This year I have grown harlequin potatoes instead of charlottes as my salad/storage variety.  They are a cross between a charlotte and a pink fir-apple.  I've finished eating all my first earlies so I thought I'd have a look at how the harlequins were doing and dug a single plant up.

I couldn't believe how many potatoes were on just the one plant ... I didn't count them but it must have been between 30 and 40 and most of them were a regular new-potato size.  The potatoes are a perfect blend of the two varieties they have in their parentage.  Long narrow shape, but perfectly smooth without the knobbly bits of a fir-apple.  Really dense and waxy yellow flesh with a little bit of a nutty flavour, the skin is tinged with pink.  If they make tubers of a decent size and store well ... I think with that kind of yield I have a new favourite potato!
Title: Re: Harlequin potatoes ... what a harvest!
Post by: Crystalmoon on July 14, 2016, 11:31:32
 :toothy10: so chuffed for you, what a fantastic result. I love Pink Fir Apples but grew Charlottes this year as I didn't have room for both. I've never heard of Harlequinns so guess what I will be planting next year xjane
Title: Re: Harlequin potatoes ... what a harvest!
Post by: galina on July 14, 2016, 14:53:04
Another Harlequin fan here, they have always done well for me. :wave:
Title: Re: Harlequin potatoes ... what a harvest!
Post by: Pescador on July 14, 2016, 16:12:08
Must remember to ty them next year as PFA are my favourite and I like Charlotte as well.
Title: Re: Harlequin potatoes ... what a harvest!
Post by: Hector on July 14, 2016, 16:31:10
Pleased to hear this as I'm trying this variety for first time this year.
Title: Re: Harlequin potatoes ... what a harvest!
Post by: cudsey on July 14, 2016, 18:50:08
 I will make a note for next year and try them, the first earlies have now gone so digging charlotte at the moment followed by juliette
Title: Re: Harlequin potatoes ... what a harvest!
Post by: Silverleaf on July 15, 2016, 01:30:26
I like Harlequin as well, they taste really nice and I like the pink splashes.
Title: Re: Harlequin potatoes ... what a harvest!
Post by: pumkinlover on July 15, 2016, 07:32:40
I grew them last year but didn't eat them till about April/ May this year and was really pleased at how good they were so long after harvest.
Of course by then we had had potato day and I hadn't ordered any for this year. Duh............ :glasses9:
Title: Re: Harlequin potatoes ... what a harvest!
Post by: squeezyjohn on July 15, 2016, 20:50:03
Better and better!  It seems they will store OK too.  That's if I can keep from eating them all as new potatoes!  They are lovely at the moment and peel beautifully with just a gentle scrape of a knife blade.
Title: Re: Harlequin potatoes ... what a harvest!
Post by: galina on July 16, 2016, 16:40:58
Quote from: pumpkinlover on July 15, 2016, 07:32:40
I grew them last year but didn't eat them till about April/ May this year and was really pleased at how good they were so long after harvest.
Of course by then we had had potato day and I hadn't ordered any for this year. Duh............ :glasses9:

They can be a little tricky to get unless you want to order from one of the Main Suppliers which is really expensive.  They are unfortunately not that often available on potato days.  I tend to put a few aside just in case I can't get any.   :wave:
Title: Re: Harlequin potatoes ... what a harvest!
Post by: pumkinlover on July 19, 2016, 07:03:30
Fingers crossed that they are in Chesterfield's next year.!