Allotments 4 All

This was my first year growing potatoes and I am a convert. So easy and *so* tasty. :P

I tried three earlies, all in buckets and bags:

1. Lady Christl - really tasty, creamy and smooth, delicious just boiled with a nob of butter. Our favourites, will definitely grow these again next year.

2. Swift - nice flavour, good size. Liked these best cold in potato salad. They also came up really clean, hardly even needed washing!

3. Rocket - earliest of the three and highest yields, but flavour a bit nondescript. :(

All three did better as single plants in buckets than two or three to a big bag... I was expecting it to be the other way round.

Which earlies did you grow this year and what do you think of them? (is it too soon to be planning next spring's spuds already?? ::))

International kidney here (Jersey 'Royals'), excellent flavour, although yield is not massive, two plants worth to a dinner at the moment. I am also keen to know what other varieties give good flavour, as that is my criterion for earlies. I have Ambo for my second earlies, not tried them yet.

I liked Lady Christl too. And Red Duke of York was superb, especially  roasted (not at all what you'd expect from a 'new' potato).  Amazing colour AND flavour!

Foremost and Mimi are both very very good, the first yields very well and cooks equally well with good flavour. The second has great flavour but low yields. However it is ideally suited to growing in tubs with low compact foliage.

But like all these things the answers will be very subjective and what I like another will not....

Jerry

Quote from: sandersj89 on June 27, 2006, 14:46:29
But like all these things the answers will be very subjective and what I like another will not....

That is so true concerning the taste test Jerry. The other factor which will alter things is the ground the crop is grown in, even on our site, different plots give varying results due to differing management regimes.

we've grown Accent, Foremost and Winston - only had the Accent and they were really good - nice and nutty

grew accent, adora, winston and red duke of york.  OH and i did a tasting test and we both like the red duke of york best  :D

Rocket

Mimi give loads of small round reds and taste fabulous. I also like Ratte.

It was our first year growing potatoes, too, but I'm far from being a convert based on experience so far. :(

The good news is that the Vales Emerald that we planted are delicious.  The bad news is that even after 15 weeks the yields are very small.  We've got some so-called second earlies and maincrop varieties too, so maybe they'll be better.  But given the amount of space they take up, I'm not sure potatoes will be on our plan for 2007 at all!

I grew Premier and RdoY in the first early class, but actually harvested Ambo, Edzell Blue and British Queen (second earlies) first.

RdoY has had excellent yields and is mighty tasty and is my favourite first early.

Edzell Blue have been my favourite overall though, great roasted.

Quote from: Melbourne12 on June 27, 2006, 19:29:00
It was our first year growing potatoes, too, but I'm far from being a convert based on experience so far. :(

The good news is that the Vales Emerald that we planted are delicious.  The bad news is that even after 15 weeks the yields are very small.  We've got some so-called second earlies and maincrop varieties too, so maybe they'll be better.  But given the amount of space they take up, I'm not sure potatoes will be on our plan for 2007 at all!

Don't give up on the spuds, there are so many varieties that you may have better luck with. Their space to yield rate can and should be excellent.

Went to a Potato Fair in February and bought 10 tubers of  about 10 different varieties - not all earlies, but so far have tried Rocket - very early, good crop, not a brilliant taste, but cooked well without boiling away  and now eating Accent - very tasty yellow flesh that eats well hot, cold and fried. I think it's either Premier or Foremost next  - anyway I'm looking forward to them

Had a great crop from Rocket but found the flavour to be a bit bland.

Only me who feels this though so may be due to too many destroyed taste buds!

Mike

I've been steaming Red Duke of York, and they are firm and delicious, and not a bad yield for earlies. Steaming is at least as fast as boiling, and thy don't lose flavour into the water or collapse.

Didn't RdoY get a very bad press, here, last year? I wonder what's made the difference this year.

Quote from: Curry on June 27, 2006, 14:41:28
I have Ambo for my second earlies, not tried them yet.

Grew those as main crop last year - had some tubers given to me - they were delicious.  I hope that you enjoy yours.

Quote from: amphibian on June 27, 2006, 21:54:35
Didn't RdoY get a very bad press, here, last year? I wonder what's made the difference this year.

Think they actually got a big thumbs up on here last year.  I was going to get some on the basis of the recommendations but my supplier did not have any so I get DoY instead.

Quote from: redclanger on June 27, 2006, 22:01:57

Quote from: amphibian on June 27, 2006, 21:54:35
Didn't RdoY get a very bad press, here, last year? I wonder what's made the difference this year.

Think they actually got a big thumbs up on here last year.  I was going to get some on the basis of the recommendations but my supplier did not have any so I get DoY instead.

You are right, it was 2004 that they got a bad press.

Just dug some DoY - in a word pathetic.  The size and number of potatoes is dismal.  I know they taste really nice but I willnot be growing them again.  In my book yied is not everything but these potatoes are just taking the biscuit. >:(