Allotments 4 All

Never grown 2nd earlies before and have a couple of questions:

When they are ready, are they the same size as 1st earlies?

When are they normally due? (planted at same "normal" time as my maincrop)?

If they are left longer than recommended, do they turn into maincrops?

Cheers
D

They are normally ready in July/August and can be used as “new” potatoes then or left to be treated as main crops. They store well unlike first earlies and can be used for chipping, roasting, boiling, baking depending on the specific variety.

HTH

Jerry

I tend to treat my second earlies as an extension of my first earlies, since they are such a delight.  A few end up growing larger and getting used as maincrop, but they are all essentially consumed by the end of October, so I have never tested their keeping qualities.

Thanks Jerry, Thanks Curry.

They do sound versatile don't they, glad I gave them a go.

i grow charlotte second earlies-its fantastic-and grows nice and big towards the end of the season without losing any flavour-i think its my favourite tater..
kitty

i wasnt that fussed with charlotte - i much preferred nicola. i have lifted allof my nicolas now - need for space plus they were ready. yummy they are too!

I haven't grown Nicola, but have eaten them, they are very fine indeed.

Kestrels - very versatile, boiling, roasting, chipping etc and have a gread King Edward like taste.

Ooh good, I've got Kestrels growing.

And aren't they supposed to show good resistance to loads of the various kinds of bugs plaguing spuds?

From the Tuckers Seeds website:

SEP08: KESTREL
PARENTAGE: SEEDLING  S. VERNIE x CARA, 1992.
APPEARANCE:Oval tubers with purple eyes, similar to Catriona.  Excellent for showing.
YIELD:  Well above average yield.
CONSUMER QUALITY:  Floury tasty flesh, better steamed than boiled.
HEALTH: Susceptible to Common Scab.  Good resistance to Blackleg and virus Y. Good drought resistance.  Good field resistance to slugs.   

I grew maris peer 2nd earliers and charlotte salad pot should I of only grown one?

Also grew first earliers and main.

the more the merrier i say rosy!

my name is kitty and i am a taterholic.

mine are maris peer. Actually lovely looking plants with great flowers. Must remember to stick a couple in the border next year

Been to the allotment this evening and my Maris Peer are dying it looks (turning yellow) like do you think they are ready?

We had the last of last year's Charlotte's last year - delicious