Main crop potatoes

[flynch]

I'm just ordering my seed potatoes and haven't grown them before. I was wondering if anyone can offer their advice on varieties they've grown and liked. I've looked at King Edwards for the floury as it's my favourite from the shop for roasts, but want a more waxy maincrop for mashing and boiling. Any suggestions for a good flavoured waxy maincrop?

I also want to try blue and red fleshed varieties. Anyone tried them? Do they taste different?

Thanks

[Penellype]

Charlotte is a nice waxy potato that grows quite big in the right conditions and will mash at a pinch. It is a 2nd early rather than a maincrop though. I like Desiree for mashing and it will boil, but it isn't really waxy.

I've not tried the blue varieties (somehow blue potato doesn't appeal, but I did try some red fleshed ones (by mistake). The flavour was fine, but they were very, very floury - I think the variety was Highland Burgundy Red.

[Snoop Puss]

I've tried several purple and red potatoes. Flavour was not great and the colour was a bit washed out once they'd been cooked. Others have had better success than me. I grew Red Emmalie and got a potato with a vague pinkish flush, someone else on here (Scarlet, maybe) got a really good colour.

As for the waxy maincrop, I'm never sure that waxy potatoes mash that well. I like them steamed. If you want them for steaming, I'd second Charlotte. I've had them grow long enough to qualify as a maincrop and the spuds were a very good size.

[annie8]

I’ve gone back to Charlotte this year as I really like it. Also growing Rudolph as a main crop which is particularly good for roasting.

[Trouvere]

I have enjoyed Ratte, a true maincrop waxy potato. I'm growing Pink Fir Apple this year. I think there are a few varieties with Pink Fir Apple parentage that might qualify as maincrop and waxy.

At the other end of the spectrum, does anyone have experience with Epicure or Sharpes Express, which so far as I can find are floury first earlies?

[Thelma Sanders]

Desiree for me - there are waxier potatoes, but they don't mash very well IMO - but Desiree does

[Bumblingbroccoli]

On the recommendation of a supplier at Hampshire potato day, I'm growing Inca Bella and kingsman maincrop, Bonnie 2nd early and vitabella first early. Never grown any. My maincrop criteria are good for roasting and baked spuds, mash too ideally but don't care about boiled...

[bikermike]

I do charlotte as a second early and pink fir as a main. I did Desree(?) last year too. they are fine, but not very interesting...
*shamefaced look* I used supermarket pots last year and lost my charlottes to blackleg.
My pink fir are from seed, but this year will be year three of using retained spuds, so I'll probably get new next year.