Scrapers

[Florence Fennel]

It's quite a while since I've posted a daft question, so here goes: I've been browsing around for potatoes to grow in containers and they all seem to be "smooth" skinned. Can anyone point me in the direction of some I used to call "easy scrapers"? You can sometimes just scrub off the skin. My all time favourites are "Bostons".

[Jeanied]

I thought any young, new potato was like that, Flo. Jersey Royals are the same.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Florence, here's a tip, try growing any of the show varieties because they are so easily skinned. Seriously though as JeanieD says, it is the young, new spuds that are easiest to scrape. Getting back to the show aspect, we reckon that if the tops are taken off, the skins set after a couple of weeks so the secret really doesn't lie in the variety, it's down to time of harvest.

[Florence Fennel]

Well, blow me! I never would have thought of that. Thanks you two. So, if I buy International Kidney (Jersey Royal incognito), these should have a "scrapable skin". Not much experience with potatoes, so might have to do a bit more searching.

[gojiberry]

Any first early potato will scrape straight from the plot. You wont even need a knife as it is easier to use a small scrubbing brush.

Ian

[Two_Sheds]

it is easier to use a small scrubbing brush.

... or your thumb

[binley100]

We grew rocket last year and if they went straight from the ground to the table (so to speak ) the skins just rubbed off .........

[Dottie]

So if all spuds can be treated like new pots if harvested while they are still young, does that mean that all spuds if left in the ground longer, will grow to big spuds even if they were suppose to new pots?

[womble]

So if all spuds can be treated like new pots if harvested while they are still young, does that mean that all spuds if left in the ground longer, will grow to big spuds even if they were suppose to new pots?

Sort of, some kinds stay small no matter how long they are left, but most will grow big given the chance/space/time/nutrients/water.
Of course, only as long as they aren't eaten/rotted by something.