Potatoes in polypots

[sewer rat]

This year, I am growing potatoes in polypots, not just for the kitchen but also to try and get some nice tubers I can put into the local show. I am growing Winston (though it is unlikely this will make it to the kitchen), Kestrel, Casablanca, Maxine and Harmony. After talking to some experienced exhibitors at tha Sutherland Show last Saturday, I thought I should take a look at my pots as they were saying it's been a poor year for potatoes up here.
I lifted and emptied one bag of each, selected at random, and emptied it to check on progress. Hoo boy am I glad I did - tatties are huge (with the exception of Casablanca and Kestrel. All the shaws (haulms to the southerners amongst us) on the Winston, Maxine and Harmony have now been removed and as the bags were quite dry anyway, the pots are now all in the greenhouse til I can clear a space in the shed. Once the skins have set I shall empty the bags and make my selection for the show and the rest can go to the kitchen.
And not a slug in sight!
And the now vacant bed - home to 2 of my Dwarf French Bean plants and a load of lettuce.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Unfortunately Potatoes are one of the classes where large is not good even if meritorious as the NVS judges guide does indicate an optimal size. The old timers will tell you that the optimum sized spud will fit in the palm of your hand but of course people have different sized hands. Having said that, any matching set of potatoes in good condition takes a bit of beating so good luck in your next show matey.

I lifted a bag of kestrel and a bag of casablanca yesterday and to say I was disappointed is an understatement. They may reach optimum size in November at this rate

[LittleShamrock]

Yay! I bet they'll taste scrummy too

I grew a polypot full of potatoes as well, they came out well, there weren't loads but about half of them were pretty huge, bigger than "baking" potatoes you'd get in supermarkets! I've still got another bag to harvest, but I don't think they've done as well.

[sewer rat]

AP
I have 5 polypots of Casablanca and 10 each of Winston, Kestrel, Harmony and Maxine. I know that huge potatoes are no good for the show (so with the exception of Winston (which only Smithy seems to like) the big uns will go to the kitchen. I need 5 tubers of each variety, and although some were obviously too big, I am hopeful of getting some nice sized tubers to make up my exhibits. Hopefully the as yet unchecked bags will be as clean as the bags I emptied as there was no scab in sight.
I seem to recall someone telling me that the optimum weight for show is approx 8 oz in old money -does this sound about right ?

[Aberdeenplotter]

AP
I seem to recall someone telling me that the optimum weight for show is approx 8 oz in old money -does this sound about right ?

6 - 8 ozs butif in a potato collection try to make every variety the same size. looks much better. Also if it's a collection in a box, keep any smaller spuds to the outside, not noticed the same there.

[sewer rat]

6 - 8 ozs butif in a potato collection try to make every variety the same size. looks much better. Also if it's a collection in a box, keep any smaller spuds to the outside, not noticed the same there.

Thanks for the tip Frank