Why do you choose what you do?

[binley100]

When you're choosing which veg to grow, what influences your choice? I've only grown rocket spuds before but now I have more room and am trying some new tatties....this is how I chose them....
Rocket -easy , grew them last year and they were tasty hot or cold and no probs...
Charlotte- Bought them in the supermarket nice either hot or cold
Nadine - Our man on the market said if I liked Rocket then I'd like these
International Kidney - If I lived on Jersey they'd be Jersey Wares , my mum always used to buy them
King Edwards- just because we got a big bag cheap from The Range
Majestic - Introduced in 1911 , when our lottie association was formed
Pentland Crown - introduced in 1959 the year I was born
Pink Fir Apple - just to see what all the fuss is about.......
So between half a dozen and a dozen or so of each so that I can make my own mind up.......

[zazen999]

I try a few varieties and see what happens. If I get a problem, I research different varieties and then pick ones that have been bred to counter it.

So Toms, I like early and late varieties as well as mid season ones
Potatoes - we get slugs at the lottie so I select eelworm resistant varieties....
Ad infinitum!

[SarzWix]

I started off by looking at texture - I don't like floury potatoes, especially in a new/salad potato, so I crossed off all of those and looked for waxy types. Then just tried as many types as I could find room for, and crossed off any that I didn't like, or didn't crop well. I loved the flavour of Anya, but the yield was so low that they got crossed off the list. Others were crossed off for falling apart when cooking etc.

Definites now include:

Ulster Prince - First early, high yield, waxy, didn't fall to bits and taste good.

Charlotte & Nicola - 2nd early, as above.

Harlequin - Maincrop salad, high yielding cross between Charlotte & PFA., best salad spud, ever.

Desiree - Maincrop, favourite ever spud for mashing

Sarpo Mira and/or Axona, & Setanta - Maincrops, blight resistant. Bit of a pain to boil/mash, but make fab roasties

[elsie-scot]

Grew the Edzell blue couple years ago, curious and it was a relatively local tattie to where I was living.

Rocket, Charlotte and Desiree - all have worked well in the past, and were ones that were recommend to me.

Usually try something else just to see how it fairs

[Pumpkin Becki]

I haven't got much room for potatoes, and to be super-honest, I can never be bothered to prepare potatoes for cooking, so if I grow them they often go to waste.

I usually buy a 'taster' bag from Suttons, which has six to eight tubers of three different varieties. That way, I get a choice but not too much wastage. I'll probably grow this years in bags...I'll be growing 'Charlotte', 'Sprint' and 'Valor'.

I grew Vanessa one year (in another 'taster' bag) - it was 'orrible. Definitely wouldn't grow it again. Other than that, I', quite open to trying different things.

[Florence Fennel]

First time for International Kidney, because it's supposed to replicate the Jersey Royal.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I have limited space and grow all my veg in containers of one sort or another. When I first started over 20 years ago I bought on recommendation and also looked for compacked plants.

Gradually I have found out what we like with regard to taste and this is my first consideration, then productivity within the area given and of course old favourites.

My first earlies are Swift, lovely boiling potato.

Second earlies I use Lady Christl a first early but I leave them in the dustbins longer to get a larger crop. SWMBOs favourite.

Main crop Picasso for yummy chips.

New this year is cauliflower Igloo. I used to grow Idol but thought I give this one a spin.

Colin

[binley100]

I'm trying Igloo as well .....because a big cauli is too much in one go for us ,

Flo thanks for putting me right, I knew that they were a Jersey something just couldn't remember which one.......

[selfraising]

I have limited space as well but as far as spuds are concerned I also like the waxy variety. I buy first or second earlies to avoid blight. As to other veg it's just trial and error. If I like the look of something or if it's unusual I will give it a try. Each year I have tried a few new tomato, chilli and pepper varieties as well as the ones I sow regularly. Gradually I hope to then eliminate the ones that don't do well and end up with some that do.

[gojiberry]

Always grow charlotte and usually two others each year. I usually choose on the spur of the moment and bought winston ages ago. I also have harlequin this year but that was a deliberate ploy as I had heard good things about them. Also have a few smile, maris peer, king edward and a sarpo variety.

Ian

[VirginVegGrower]

When you're choosing which veg to grow, what influences your choice? I've only grown rocket spuds before but now I have more room and am trying some new tatties....this is how I chose them....
Rocket -easy , grew them last year and they were tasty hot or cold and no probs...
Charlotte- Bought them in the supermarket nice either hot or cold
Nadine - Our man on the market said if I liked Rocket then I'd like these
International Kidney - If I lived on Jersey they'd be Jersey Wares , my mum always used to buy them
King Edwards- just because we got a big bag cheap from The Range
Majestic - Introduced in 1911 , when our lottie association was formed
Pentland Crown - introduced in 1959 the year I was born
Pink Fir Apple - just to see what all the fuss is about.......
So between half a dozen and a dozen or so of each so that I can make my own mind up.......

Charlotte - taste nice
Rocket - son wants to plant these
Pink Fir - my first experience digging up potatoes as a child - they're magic
Duke of York - considered the best for flavour
Pentland Javelin - Tried and tested
International Kidney - Jersey Royals - enough said
Desiree - old faithful
Maris Peer - bought in supermarket
Maris Piper - bought in supermarket


Just a thought - if we are listing our pots for growing this year - how about making this a poll?

[sarahspatch]

I always grow Charlottes, lovely salad spud.
Growing Maris Piper this year (husband reckons they are THE best for roast potatoes...and they are damm good!
Have also tried and liked Rooster and Smile.

[bearded bloke]

Having limited space its just Rocket & Cara (best jacket spud on the planet)

[binley100]

Just a thought - if we are listing our pots for growing this year - how about making this a poll?

Well, when I started it I hadn't intended it to be just about tatties, more about reasons for choosing various varieties of veg to grow.....

[VirginVegGrower]

Well, when I started it I hadn't intended it to be just about tatties, more about reasons for choosing various varieties of veg to grow.....

Sorry, hadn't realised you wanted a wider answer. I grow what we as a family eat, plus a few things that I haven't done before. I love asparagus and buy lots when in season - this year I have set my own bed of three crowns. We love soft fruits so have strawberries, raspberries (jam making), redcurrants, whitecurrants, blackcurrants, blueberries (son likes muffins or pancakes with these). Tatties as we eat lots and I like to store enough to keep us going through the year. Salad crops as these are a mainstay for meals through the summer. Beans and peas - freezeable crops. Parsnips, carrots, turnips, celeriac for stews and soups. Beetroot and gherkins for pickling. Brassicas because I will crack them one year. Cukes, peppers and toms in the greenhouse for fresh on tap. Leeks, shallots and onions - staple crop as base for the soups and stews. Sweetcorn as we love the taste of a fresh cobb or two with butter. Now I am hungry - bye!

PS. Okra this year and some spotty Italian beans as my newbie trys.