Virgin Territory Spuds

[johnty greentoes]

Am just embarking on putting a huge lawn into production and plan to plant spuds galore next season. The soil is clayey, heavy etc... and has been under lawn for decades. I've got a shed load of you know what arriving next week so I should be able to enrich things.

What I'd appreciate is any advice on which varieties to go for. I'd like to guarantee a crop until Oct so I'll be doing the whole 1st early, 2nd early and maincrop thing. Organic varieties preferred.

[bluemoon]

I can recommend 'Cara' as a main crop. It isn't the tastiest spud in the world, but when you're using potatoes as a pioneer crop they're perfect as they're so vigorous and the crops are huge, meaning you'd probably be eating your own well into the new year.

[emilymup]

hiya! 'tattieman' has his own website - he sells potatoes! Maybe he could advise you!

[tattieman]

My first advice would be to remove the turf and place it into a compost heap as it could contain wireworm eggs and other nasty things that will ruin your first crop of potatoes.
You can make traps for the little pests in the ground by using slices of potato and once you see they are getting holes in then you should remove the slice.

Ok so onto the choice of potatoes.
First early- Fastest growing spud is Swift it can be ready in 60 days from day of planting given the right conditions.Lady Christl are also very good.

Second early- I love charlotte and wilja both are great tasting and have very few problems. Probably my favourite ones to grow.

Maincrop- Pentland Crown- King Edward-Maris piper all great varieties and they grow big.
For something a bit different Pink fir apple and Anya.

Wet clayey soil could be improved with some manure to give it a bit of humus and provide great feeding for the spuds.

If you need any more info I am always happy to help and all of these varieties can be purchased from all top retailers and garden centres.

[johnty greentoes]

Fantastic advice which I will follow ...

Last year in my school garden I grew Rocket and Vales Emerald (thanks to the Potato Council) and King Edward and Pink Fir Apple - all really enjoyable (especially some of the humanesque forms!).

Thanks everyone.

[Snadger]

I grew Kestrel (second early) last year and have been singing their praises ever since.
They are slug resistant and possibly bight resistant? (wouldn't know about latter as we rarely get blight around here), large spuds and a reasonable cropper.
All my other spuds had keel slug damage!

[johnty greentoes]

I grew Kestrel (second early) last year and have been singing their praises ever since.
They are slug resistant and possibly bight resistant? (wouldn't know about latter as we rarely get blight around here), large spuds and a reasonable cropper.
All my other spuds had keel slug damage!

Thanks Snadger