Best early potato variety for 'tubs'?

[smallblueplanet]

Goodness, it's already time for the perennial 'what is the best variety' of potato for tubs/pots/buckets?

Well how was last years crop everyone? Looking for a tasty early variety please.....

[Benacre]

Aaron Pilot for an all rounder and I love Vanessa as a great Salad potato.(2nd Early) again Kestrel with blue eyes is a great second early all rounder

You can grow maincrop but I find them too hungry for tubs.
I have grown these varieties for several years Aaron Pilot for 26 years in tubs.
Benacre

[Snadger]

............................ Aaron Pilot for 26 years in tubs.
Benacre

Strewth, some growing season that!!!!

[sewer rat]

Last year I grew Arran Pilot and Foremost in buckets and both dead really well, so I would recommend both. Also, lots of locals up here grow Kestrel in buckets for show purposes - dunno what it tastes like but the tubers are really attractive on the showbench

[Lesley Jay]

Arran Pilot here too. Has anyone tried Arran Victory?

[sewer rat]

LJ
Sure that in one of the other potato threads (probably about seed potatoes) Earthbabe said she had grown Arran Victory, but do not know if that was in tubs or not - especially as it is classed as a late maincrop variety, therefore probably requires a long growing season

[Lesley Jay]

Rat I just wondered if anyone grew it. Nothing to do with tubs. I have just seen Earthbabes reply.

[smallblueplanet]

What sort of growing period is there for earlies in tubs? How long from planting to picking for say, Arran pilot?

[sewer rat]

Sbp
As a very general rule of thumb you should allow earlies about thirteen weeks from planting to harvesting - best way is to give them their thirteen weeks then have a root around in your tub with your hands and see what you think - can be left longer if you think they need it.

[Alice]

I think Charlotte is strictly speaking a second early, but it's the benchmark against which all else is judged.( My opinion and that of many professionals) 13 weeks should give you a good crop.

[Weavie]

Read that Rocket are good for tubs as they have shorter haulms. Very quick to grow along with Swift as a first early. It was good to see Duke of York on GYO this evening as put mine to chit on windowsill couple of days ago - they are already showing tiny green lumps! I know some gardeners say that chitting isn't neccessary but at least if you've put a few spuds on the windowsill at this time of year it feels like your actually 'doing' something and getting some enjoyment from the process - does anyone else feel the same?

[Alice]

I chit mine Weavie. I've just got to see it happening !

[nick the grief]

Read that Rocket are good for tubs as they have shorter haulms. Very quick to grow along with Swift as a first early. It was good to see Duke of York on GYO this evening as put mine to chit on windowsill couple of days ago - they are already showing tiny green lumps! I know some gardeners say that chitting isn't neccessary but at least if you've put a few spuds on the windowsill at this time of year it feels like your actually 'doing' something and getting some enjoyment from the process - does anyone else feel the same?

Ah, just answered this in another thread ! Swift are better in tubs as they are shorter thanRocket & seem to perform better in tubs than Rocket. I usually grow Rocket as my 1st early in the lottie

[Berr]

Last year I grew- in big pots and ex refuse bins- these: Swift, Rocket, Lady Chrystl, Foremost, Sharpe's Express, Maris Bard, Red Duke of York, and Carlingford (latter a second early, I believe). Best of all was Maris Bard. Best of the flouries was Sharpes Express (Red Duke good too). Of the more waxy, we liked Lady C. best. But subjective, of course. Of the super earlies Swift was substantially better than Rocket, which was bland in my husbandry.

[seasprout]

Titter....

Strewth, some growing season that!!!!

I was taking notes, read that reply and dropped the pen laughing.