Which variety of seed potato?

[Lavenderblue]

We have decided to grow a few spuds this year. Now I have never grown them before so have no idea what to grow. Now what varieties of maincrops do you recommend? We will be growing on our allotment rather than in buckets or pots or owt like that. Be interested to hear your thoughts. (my fave shop bought spuds are roosters btw)

[jacob marley]

Well there's your answer Grow Rooster see if your's are better than the shop's..jacob..

[shirlthegirl43]

Agreed, go with rooster if you love them. I also like Winston - a lovely oval spud which is tasty when small and great for baking boiling or anything else when left to get bigger.

[fwuffydragon]

We find that Maris Peer do really well. Red Desiree are also really nice.
Work out what you want to do with them though - some are better for roasting / boiling than others.

If you want them in small packets, Wyevale do packs of 10. Some online catalogues do a "trial pack" which is 5 of each of several varieties, normally for use as patio plants, but great for trying out new varieties.

Check with your allotment people which varieties do / don't do well - I know that on our patch King Edward do really badly, for instance.

[Two_Sheds]

Your first consideration has to be flavour/texture, what you'll use them for. Some are better for mash, others for roasting, etc.
Here's a good guide: Potato Varieties - Potato Council

2nd consideration has to be what you can obtain. You can get lots by mail order, but P&P can be prohibitive (around £6). You may be limited by what you can buy locally.

3rd consideration (or should that be 1st?) is your conditions. Maincrops will be out if you are in a blight-prone area (aren't we all?). Personally, I've never had blight on my spuds, although the tomatoes get it every year. But then, I am as far east as you can go without getting your feet wet.

You can't control the weather ... my crop last year was good, but there were lots more keel slugs than usual, so I have a lot of slug damage in my spuds. I also got scab on my new plot (too much lime from the previous tenant perhaps)

[Lavenderblue]

Wind and lack of water are the biggest problem, we have slugs but not that many, I suspect the rats eat them. Our allotment site was all but abandoned for years but last year was the first time that anyone had grown anything so it was all a bit hit and miss.

We got tomato blight but other allotment holders seemed to be ok with their spuds last year - I was thinking of an all rounder type spud, one for mashing, roasting and if possible, baking.

I will see what i can find - excellent advice as per usual everyone and especially Two_Sheds

[SarzWix]

If you like Rooster, you should grow Rooster Get some others too for variety, but you should definitely grow the ones you know you like

Potato : Rooster (Onions, Garlic and Potatoes)

Marshalls Seeds Product Detail- 1050-6659: Main Crop Potato Rooster

Suttons Seeds: Seed Potatoes: Potato Rooster

[Two_Sheds]

excellent advice as per usual everyone and especially Two_Sheds

oh, that's sweet of you
I often get tired of the sound of my own voice (online voice) and assume others do too.

[Lavenderblue]

oh, that's sweet of you
I often get tired of the sound of my own voice (online voice) and assume others do too.

Oh don't think like that. I believe your advice to be sound and practical. I like reading your posts, it makes me learn stuff