Best early potato variety for 'tubs'?

[Berr]

Strewth, some growing season that!!!!

Less Aaron, more Methuselah...??

[JennieAtkinson]

I did Charlotte and Duke of York in bags last year. Charlotte did really well, but the Duke of York were disappointing. I bought some cheap big pots in a sale in September (unfortunately they are coloured lilac! - thats why they were cheap!) so was going to try Charlotte again. I found the bags were not open enough to be able to see if they needed watering, so hoping the big pots will be better and I might get a better harvest.

[pigletwillie]

Even he would only get a few harvests in his lifetime!!

[Berr]

Even he would only get a few harvests in his lifetime!!

183.346 to be precise.

[mazel-bee]

I was unexperienced with potatoes last year ( still struggling to understand spud speak! and definately don't quite understand early, late-early main crop type thing. I have three pots, When and which and what should I do for the best crop?). With my limited space I put swift in pots last year. The potential was great, I think I choose badly with swifts and was expecting a better crop. I would recommend not using them again.

[lyndap]

Dobies(catologue free with this months GYO) have an offer of three sorts of seed potatoes and tato buckets.You can just buy the seed potatoes if buckets not needed!The type areRed duke of york,Maris piper and Charlotte.

[Poledragon]

I grew Arran Victory last year, but on sand and with the drought they didn't come to much. The ones that were big enough were fairly tasty, but needed steaming for mashing or they just disintegrated. I've about half a bag left, but not sure if they'll keep for much longer with the scab on them.

Arran Victory were my only real 'success' in what was a lousy year for spuds. Will be sticking a few earlies into buckets, just as an experiment, this year.

[pigletwillie]

Lady Crystl did very well for me both in the ground and in 25 litre tubs. So well that I am growing it again this year.

[shirlthegirl43]

I did Charlotte and Duke of York in bags last year. Charlotte did really well, but the Duke of York were disappointing. I bought some cheap big pots in a sale in September (unfortunately they are coloured lilac! - thats why they were cheap!) so was going to try Charlotte again. I found the bags were not open enough to be able to see if they needed watering, so hoping the big pots will be better and I might get a better harvest.

I did Swift and one I can't remember in pots last year both way better than shop spuds (and earlies don't travel far to get the shops here). Also did a 'short row' of Duke of York. Was desperate for a home grown spud and dug a plant of Duke when I thought they would be ready - disappointing - but 2 or 3 weeks later they were gorgeous. Definately doing a longer row this year!

[Grandpadragon]

Grew Rocket and Charllotte in tubs last year rocket was tasteless but Charlotte wonderful Crops could have been bigger but suspect lack of water as cause. Will stand tubs in "Giant Saucers" this year

[trousers]

Oh Bugger ! Wellie bought some Rocket this morning.... Thankfully, only about five, for one of our large tubs. She'd of liked Lady Christl, but they didn't have any. They had most of the others you mentioned, so I'll watch with interest as you make your recommendations, and we'll make a further couple of purchases after that. Very informative thread, thanks....

[nick the grief]

Don't worry Trousers, just add loads of mint Winston is another good one for tubs I got 7lb of tatties from two pots !!

[SueA]

I like 'Rocket' & 'Concorde' for tubs. I tried a new one called 'Harlequin' but was not impressed by the yield. I think I remember 'Swift ' & 'Charlotte' being O.K. too.

[Poledragon]

Isn't Harlequin the Pink Fir Apple/Charlotte cross? Did the flavour make up for the lack of yield?

[SueA]

Hi Poledragon, yes I think it is, the tubers look like a white/yellow version of the pink fir apple ones. They did taste lovely & have some disease resistance so that did make up for the lack of numbers I suppose. They might be worth trying on a larger scale in the ground but I don't have room to give that a go.