Allotments 4 All

Hi  :)
I found this site when I was looking for different varieties of potatoes
http://varieties.potato.org.uk/varietyindex.php%20?page_no=1
Hope it helps somebody who is undecided on what variety to try this year.
Debs :D

Great site!! I was just looking for an alternative to Maris Piper since I've never managed a good crop with them, always turn out scabby and full of worm and slug damage.

Has anyone tried growing Cara spuds? are they any good as a floury potato?

thanks
Vaca

I found Alan Romans site  very useful for homework on potatoes

I will be sticking with 4 of the 6 varieties I planted last year. Last year I tried a new variety for me - Cara. On the disease scale it was given an 8. It was the worst potato crop I have ever had. It's now off my list.

I have saved the website in my favourites for detailed viewing later. Always willing to try new varieties as you just never no.

This potato chossing marlaky is far to confusing! I have decided on pink fur apple and charlotte for salads and will grow these mainly in tubs. I am looking for a good variety that will keep well and be a good general all-rounder for chips, mashed potato etc. Ideally I want to buy the seeds from our allotment shop as they are much cheaper than the shops. The varieties they have are:

early: sharps express, rocket and red duke of york - not sure whether to get any of these. If they don't keep we can use the salad potatoes?

2nd early: kestrel

mains: desiree, sante, maxine, maris piper and kerris pink

Last year we grew arran pilot and maris piper - both got blight but we still ended up with a decent crop.  Would kestrel be a good substitute for arran pilot?

here's some more good sites....

www.allotment.org.uk/vegetable/potato/potato-flavour-type.php

www.potatoesforcaterers.co.uk/varieties.asp

www.britishpotatoes.co.uk/potato-varieties

i went to potato day at bowburn in co.Durham (today) - was like a january sale. started at 10am and i

go there at 10.15, only to find that 3 of the varieities i wanted were sold out :-[

Debs

Thanks for the links Deb have saved to favs.
;D

I'm sure that I'm in a minority, but I'm grateful for what I get, & whatever I have I use for whatever I need. Maybe not Blumenthal, but no complaints in this house!!

Kestrel for me again this year.  ;D ;D ;D

swift, pentland javelin, rooster, those free for 95p ones, kestrel and desiree,
we likes spuds  ;D

Quote from: Debs on February 02, 2008, 14:26:14
...

i went to potato day at bowburn in co.Durham (today) - was like a january sale. started at 10am and i

go there at 10.15, only to find that 3 of the varieities i wanted were sold out :-[

Debs

Long queue and stampede at Ryton. Elbows! More like a Harrods sale. Sarpo - only 1 sack of disappeared within minuted and before I probably got in the door - arrived just after 10am (probably 10 minutes or so queueing to get in).  Came away with far too many potatoes. At least should have the second plot to plant them in!

Quote from: cornykev on February 02, 2008, 18:46:22
Kestrel for me again this year.  ;D ;D ;D

do kestrel keep okay?

Bah humbug - Kestrel was on my list but I didn't get any.

Quote from: Multiveg on February 02, 2008, 19:57:16
Long queue and stampede at Ryton. Elbows! More like a Harrods sale. Sarpo - only 1 sack of disappeared within minuted and before I probably got in the door - arrived just after 10am (probably 10 minutes or so queueing to get in).  Came away with far too many potatoes. At least should have the second plot to plant them in!

It was a bit of a scrum..... As I still didn't feel totally well I stood back out of the way and sent my seasoned small elbowed son into the crowd to secure the couple of varieties I wanted, he came out saying loudly' Why do all these older (he is 11!) people never say excuse me please when they push past me mum?'  I said 'because , unlike you, they are RUDE mate!!' That got a few wry looks! ;D

Kestrel =  keep well
                 damage free
                   lovely chips
                     and better roasties
                        :P  ;D ;D ;D

I like Kestrel too, but I'm not growing them this year. Desiree & Charlotte are a must; very impressed with Picasso & Roseval last year, so I'm growing them again. King Edward is the best roaster with the best flavour, but it's not happy on my soil (lots of spuds, but very small) so I've dropped it. I was slightly under-impressed by Arran Victory (but last year was a funny year).