Tater variety ...

[nick the grief]

question for you all.

We all know ( I assume) that Jersey Royals are really International Kidney just 'renamed' for a sort of copyright reason so, Many years ago I used to have regular holidays in my Uncles caravan in wales (every other weekend and 6 weeks in the summer in fact) and we used to have "Pembroke earlies" when they were in season - any one know what variety they are? as I think its just a trade name like Jersey Royals. I know they won't taste the same here as the salt air and maybe even they dress the fields with seaweed but I was just wondering ... One for you to google Nicos

ntg

[Bren In Pots]

NtG I've found a Pembrokeshire Early potato

https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/fe...early-potatoes

[Snoop Puss]

That pea and potato 'presse' looks lovely, Bren. Got me tempted to grow potatoes when I hadn't planned to this year... Might be worth it, just for some first earlies. Won't find Pembrokeshire Earlies where I am, but they sound lovely.

[Nicos]

Funny thing is that my mom always got excited to see the tiny, tissue paper fine skinned Cheshire New potatoes in the shops.

[Andraste]

Hi nick the grief,

There's a well concealed reference to Maris Peer and Lady Christl in this article:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...mpagne-6368782

I'd be tempted to buy some supermarket ones & give them a go with a thought to saving your own seed. I know, I know....not guaranteed disease free, better to by proper seed spuds...blah, blah - but at least you'd know they were the right 'sort' & you could maybe grow them in a potato bag thingumy rather than in the ground if it made you feel better about it

[Nicos]

Doesn’t say the actual variety but here’s another interesting link about them…
https://assets.publishing.service.go...d_Oct_2022.pdf

[Bren In Pots]

That pea and potato 'presse' looks lovely, Bren. Got me tempted to grow potatoes when I hadn't planned to this year... Might be worth it, just for some first earlies. Won't find Pembrokeshire Earlies where I am, but they sound lovely.

The pea and potato recipe does look good.

[Jungle Jane]

You could water your earlies with a spoonful of Welsh sea salt mixed in,try to get the soil similar. Samphire likes salt water too,I wonder if it could share a bed,it could be the sea bed

[nick the grief]

NtG I've found a Pembrokeshire Early potato

https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/fe...early-potatoes

yes theres a few places advertise pembrokeshire earlies but they don't say what the variety is (its just a marketing name I think) I looked on the potato database yesterday and theres nothing with pembrokshire in the name

[nick the grief]

Hi nick the grief,

There's a well concealed reference to Maris Peer and Lady Christl in this article:

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...mpagne-6368782

I'd be tempted to buy some supermarket ones & give them a go with a thought to saving your own seed. I know, I know....not guaranteed disease free, better to by proper seed spuds...blah, blah - but at least you'd know they were the right 'sort' & you could maybe grow them in a potato bag thingumy rather than in the ground if it made you feel better about it

We're back down there in May I might have to take Gus a walk and if he accidentally digs some up I may have to replant them at home

[nick the grief]

You could water your earlies with a spoonful of Welsh sea salt mixed in,try to get the soil similar. Samphire likes salt water too,I wonder if it could share a bed,it could be the sea bed

Yes theres a few things you could grow like that in a raised bed of their own ... Samphire, Sea Beet (loads at Tenby) and Sea Kale (again loads at Tenby ...Mrs G might have to catch the train back to get all the foraged cuttings in

[Bren In Pots]

An interesting article here about Pembrokeshire earlies

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-...wales-25213655

[smallblueplanet]

"Redcliffe Salaman notes in his book The History and Social Influence of the Potato, that Arthur Young visited Pembrokeshire in 1776 and on landing at Milford Haven he found that potato cultivation was widespread.
In addition in Early Potatoes by W.L Thomas and P.W. Eyre; the growing of Pembrokeshire Earlies/Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes on a field scale began in 1922. The Second World War, and the consequential market and political pressures resulted in an increase in the acreage of potatoes being grown in Pembrokeshire, the majority being sold to markets in the large population centres of South Wales and the Midlands.

The period between the 1950’s and 70s saw an increase in the growing of the early potato sector, with Pembrokeshire farmers selling the majority of early potatoes to markets in the Midlands and North of England to meet growing consumer demand.
In the early 1980s, 30 growers came together to form a Potato Marketing Group which ensured that only potatoes of sufficient quality were supplied to market. Later in 1995, a processing plant was constructed in Pembrokeshire which started to grade and process potatoes for the multiple markets. All the growers of Pembrokeshire Earlies/Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes have innate knowledge of local characteristics.
Growers have to know when to plant to maximise yields. Factors they have to consider include soil temperature, soil condition, weather factors and a “feel” and understanding of when all of these things come together to mark a good time to plant. These are particular skills associated with growing Pembrokeshire Earlies/Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes, which are specific to the area and to the crop and have been developed over the years and handed down from generation to generation.

Soil preparation is paramount, with smaller stones being left in the soil to aid warming. The timing of getting chitted potatoes at the optimum stage of development in time for planting is hugely important. As referenced in section 4.5. hand picking may be necessary when growing Pembrokeshire Earlies/Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes on steep sloping land and during the first two weeks of the harvest when the potatoes are very soft. Hand picking allows the potatoes to be harvested with minimal damage to the crop. As the season progresses, the potatoes harden sufficiently to allow careful machine harvesting. The young and soft nature of the potatoes means that machine harvesting has to be carried out with great care."

https://assets.publishing.service.go...d_Oct_2022.pdf

[smallblueplanet]

We're back down there in May I might have to take Gus a walk and if he accidentally digs some up I may have to replant them at home

I quoted from the Gov pdf which Nicos earlier quoted (I missed that), it describes the growing conditions that are required. Then there's this from the 'producers' that basically says it's down to the terroir. From Puffin Produce:

"Unlike Jersey Royals though, Pembrokeshire Earlies are not a single variety, being made up of different cultivars bred and grown to a particular standard within a geographical area. “We concentrate on growing great-tasting varieties such as Lady Christl and Maris Peer to put into our Blas y Tir Pembrokeshire Early Potatoes bags through the summer season.”

Puffin Produce’s brand Blas y Tir, meaning “Taste of the Land” in Welsh, is partly attuned to its Welsh roots, with the red dragon emblazoned on each bag. But it’s the production methods that distinguish the potatoes from other brands.

“One of our biggest methods of maintaining the quality of our crops is practising rotation growing. Our dedicated Pembrokeshire Early potato growers grow these crops on a minimum field rotation of one every four years to ensure we maintain soil health, to minimise soil-borne pests and diseases, and to keep organic matter levels up. This practice of focusing on soil health means that soil structure and fertility is maintained throughout the rotation, keeping potato plants healthy up until the tubers are harvested.

Tye continues: “By maintaining the nutrient levels within the soil we are not only ensuring fertile soils and sustainable farming practices for years to come, but we also think that the abundance of nutrients available within the soil benefits the texture, flavour and eating quality of the potatoes. The fact that all of our potatoes are grown, picked and packed in Wales also means we can ensure complete traceability and minimal food-mile footprint – one consumer even described Pembrokeshire Early potatoes as ‘Jersey Royals without the jet lag!’”
https://www.fruitnet.com/fresh-produ...178277.article

[nick the grief]

thanks Bren and SBP yes I've come to the conclusion its just a marketing ploy ... I'll stick with my arrans and casablanca. But it was interesting

ntg