Best spud varieties?

[Iwantgreenfingers]

Hi all
I am going to pick up a batch of seed potatoes for our school garden from either B&Q or a local nursey in the next couple days and wanted to know which varieties are the nicest tasting and easiest to grow (we have pots and a veg plot - with quite a bit of clay in). last year I took some off the shelf at a local garden centre without looking at the variety and they did so well - new potato sized!! Would love the same success again this year!! I know i should have looked but am learning as i go along at this.

I'd also love to get some for my own garden - hoping to build some raised beds in the next few weeks - what are ideal salad potatoes for there!

I hear Maris peer are nice??

Thanks in advance!

[tattieman]

I would go along to your local nursery and I am sure they would give you good advice.
Maris Peer are good. Charlotte are very popular. Have a look on my website and see which ones you like. Make a list and go to your local shop and see which ones you can get. Nice and easy for you.

[vegmandan]

I find that for me on a heavyish soil that "Nicola" and "Rocket" do really well as a salad potato.

I got around 5lbs per plant with "Nicola" this year,and even when they grew big they still stayed waxy so were ideal as a boiled spud.

As for Maincrop,"Sante" or "Picasso" did well for me on a clay soil when I did grow maincrops.

[baggyman]

I think you need to look at slug/eelwworm/blight resistance and yield, as well as flavour when choosing your varieties.
If any knows of the perfect mashing tatties then I would love to know.