International Kidney (Jersey Royal) tatties

[Snadger]

Just bought a bag of International Kidney potatoes. They are sold as an early but I think they are just a maincrop which is lifted early.

Anyone grown them without the seaweed treatment they get in the Channel Isles?(Can't be bothered to visit the coast for seaweed!)

Thought I would just lift them as I needed them and leave some to mature as a maincrop. What are large mature potatoes best used for, ie boiled, roasted etc.

[Lesley Jay]

Snadger I grew them one year and they had no flavour to them. Possibly my soil and the lack of seaweed and coastal salt spray. I am firmly of the opinion that you will never grow the same tasting potatoes as Jersey Royals without the identical enviroment.

[Earthbabe]

Snadger they don't use the seaweed treatment any more and you are right they are a maincrop that is started off really early and lifted early. Generally grown under plastic on a sunny cotil.

[ogilvie]

We had they same problem last year. With us it is 'Ayrshire' potatoes that taste absolutely fab and we decided to have a go at growing our own. The variety grown as 'Ayrshires' is Epicure, so we bought some and planted them, some in the garden and some in dustbins and guess what they tasted nothing like the ones we bought down the coast. Without identical growing conditions I guess they turn out different. This year we're trying Red Duke of York and Charlotte to see how they turn out. We've made a couple of trips down the coast and picked up some seaweed to put on my compost heap, which seems to be rotting down quite quickly, hopefully it will be ready as a spring mulch for the potatoes. Will let you know how we get on.

Ogilvie

[Snadger]

We have a Newcastle General and Royal Victoria Infirmary here so I think I'll amalgamate the two and will cultivate them as Newcastle Royal potatoes and see how they turn out!

It's amazing what a bit of mint sauce and butter can do for tatties!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

[Grandpadragon]

It's amazing what a bit of mint sauce and butter can do for tatties!

And your waist line