Allotments 4 All

I meant to post about this a while back when it first started, but I guess better late than never! The Sarvari Trust is looking for support and funding to continue their research and commitment to supplying Blight resistant varieties  https://www.buzzbnk.org/SarpoPotatoes

I must admit I'm a fan of Sarpo varieties, particularly as Late Blight is such a problem in my area. I can't remember a year it hasn't hit which doesn't half make it difficult growing a worthwhile crop of spuds! It appears Sarvari have set up a new company, Sarpo Potatoes Ltd, to produce and sell their seed potatoes. Which is good news as I've been disappointed by T&M on several occasions when they have been unable to deliver some of the Sarpo varieties I'd ordered.

Taste wise I find some of the Sarpo spuds a bit dry for me, as I prefer waxy types. Last year I grew 3 Sarpo varieties including my favourite tasting one so far Sarpo Kifli, I found it didn't quite match Axona or Mira for blight resistance but flavour is great. In my view Sarpo has got to be the way to go to beat blight and best of all they are naturally bred and grown! I found it a bit frustrating and sad to read this week about some scientists breeding a GMO blight resistant potato when we already have blight resistant Sarpo Varieties and hopefully many more to come!

I tried a couple of rows of Mira last year and they stood the entire season and produced a handsome crop!  Taste wise there are better spuds but I found they roasted well and were fine as mash and as plain boiled spuds - but then I do kine a bit of butter with my spuds!

yes there are more blight ,varieties out there too not just sarpo- carolus, setanta, valor, orla I'm  trying carolus this year which is supposed to be quite waxy.

I've not grown Carolus and against blight had no success with Setanta, Valor and Orla, all were wiped out. I wonder if the strains of Blight evolve and perhaps some of the older blight resistant varieties have been left behind. Keep us updated on how well they do and taste 

Quote from: Jayb on February 20, 2014, 21:32:40
I've not grown Carolus and against blight had no success with Setanta, Valor and Orla, all were wiped out. I wonder if the strains of Blight evolve and perhaps some of the older blight resistant varieties have been left behind. Keep us updated on how well they do and taste 

Bought Carolus on potato day and it was advertised as bomb proof, they labelled this variety 'immune to blight'!  I am very much looking forward to putting that claim to the test.  If true, then this trait could be bred into many traditional varieties and make them all immune to blight.  Can't quite believe it, but we will see.  It is certainly a BIG claim to make.  Certainly the Sarpo Mira and Axona are pretty blight proof here. 

I am also dismayed at the proposed GM potato, which is not needed.  It was one of those occasions when I shouted at the telly, because they did not mention the Sarpo potatoes at all to balance the news item about the GM potato.   

Unfortunately, strains of Blight do evolve and some potato varieties which at one time were considered to be resistant to blight, have succumbed to newer strains of blight. At the moment, Sarpo Mira and Axona, are standing up well to the blight onslaught.

Last year in Glasgow, there was almost no blight on our allotments, but this was quite unusual!!

I find the amount of blight varies tremendously from year to year. If we get a couple of wet summers, it's clearly endemic on the site, as it's all over the place as soon as we get a Smith period. Then we get a dry summer like last year, and it almost disappears again.

After many years of blight free growing I did succomb for a couple of years and tried Axona/Mira. Couldn't get on with them so stopped and as we don't eat many spuds anyway, used shop bought.
Last year, I thought I'd grow a row of Arron Pilot and Desiree and the crop was so heavy and blight free that I'm not going to finish them!
Back to shop bought and grow more broad beans!

I have just supported them. I am having a terrible time getting sarpo type potatoes from t and m. First kiffi, ordered last august, none sent and ran out. Now blue danube promised by the end of feb. Ho ho, I bet they push the date back again. Sick of t and m. I wish savari would use a different company

If anyone wants to support this latest project by getting Sarvari/Sarpo name out there or fund them https://www.buzzbnk.org/SarpoPotatoes
Just nine days to go!