Allotments 4 All

I'm just about to get a bed ready in my allotment, and the aim is to get some decent spuds in there asap.

Which seed potatoes should I be getting in now/over the next few weeks that would give me a decent crop in early summer?

I'm a complete novice, but have been told that spuds will be a good first veg; to get in.

Hi C&D,

I've brought Rocket (earlys) and Maris Piper (main) this year. Hoping to get them in the ground this week, if it drys off a bit first. Looks like a good week here in cambridgeshire, so am planning on friday. I tried Pentlan Javelin last year, they were nice. Some people on our site all get different varieties and swap around so you get to try quite a few.

Thanks, Spudly. I think Rocket is the one most people recommend, so I'll go with them I think.

Hi C&D

Another recommendation is Lady Christl.  These are earlies with a wonderful flavour and come out of the ground nice and clean.  I planted too many last year and was still digging them up in September and they were still fine, quite big and still in perfect condition.

There is nothing like the taste of the first new potatoes you dig up.... :)

T.

There is nothing like the taste of the first new potatoes you dig up....


I'll second that. With a nice dollop of real butter on top :P I can almost taste them now. Come on spuds hurry up. ;D

Are the Rocket and Lady Christl good for your general purposes, such as mashing, boiling etc?

Both the above are earlys, that just means a salad type potato. Just boiled would be fine. I would not dream of mashing a new potato. It's the main crop that you need a good all rounder such as Maris Piper for mash, chip, boiled. But other main crop tats are good, check out the Internet for a list of varieties and uses.

Winston are an early that will bake or mash

Quote from: Barnowl on March 18, 2009, 09:08:44
Winston are an early that will bake or mash

shhh dont tell anyone,
i got a pm telling me i was naive stupid to think i could grow a first early baker   ::)
lbb  x

Winston are a first early baker and masher according to http://www.jbaseedpotatoes.co.uk/seed-potato-first-earlies/winston-p20.html all they sell is pots and have done so for over 100 years so they should know their stuff!! ;D

Also at Alan Romans

I dont think you can go far wrong with a first early called  " Accent " .

Good flavour, reliable cropper, and nice and early.

For salad the French bred variety called " Charlotte " takes some beating.

I'll be planting my Duke of York today. I'm not going any further than that since I want to put another first early (haven't bought them yet!) alongside before I put any more varieties in. I think any potato could go in now.

My Rocket and Lady Chrystl are already in and in a few weeks time the Kestrel will go in followed by Ratte.  :P   ;D ;D ;D

I agree about Charlotte, they are absolutely delicious, and as they are theoretically second early they can go in now. I have planted 110 potatoes since late Feb (East Sussex) in the teeth of remarks about frost and snow, and I am really pleased with the weather so far, especially at the moment.

only got the desiree to go, this weekend  ;D

Quote from: Robert_Brenchley on March 18, 2009, 12:29:09
... I think any potato could go in now.

I operate that as I alternate my planting first, second, main, first, second, main etc so that I can use soil from where the firsts were to earth up the seconds etc...

I've bought some Maris Piper and got some Hunter's free! When should I be looking at getting them in?

Now. Just bung them in.

My earlies are in, Lady Christie and Arron Pilot.
Some of my 2nd earlies are in, the rest will go in today, Kestrel and Nichola, both of these can be lifted when needed after earlies have done, or left in the ground to grow bigger without losing Flavour, My maincrop are going in this weekend, they are Kondor. The reason they are going in now and not later is that for the last 2 years we have had blight and by getting the maincrop in early, it gives them a chance to reach a more usable size should blight appear again this year, and I have to lift em early. I earth up as I plant and will earth up again if frost is forcast.