Charlotte Potatoes

[Claire J]

I am very much a novice to growing my own veg (2nd year) and have had mixed success and some disasters! I planted these the 1st week of April and by my calculation should have been ready in 12 weeks - end of June. There were no flowers so I presumed not ready and left them longer, another month and still now flowers but leaves were starting to wilt so I started to dig them up. First few were fine and now they look ok but if you boil them them just fall apart so only ok for roasting. Some advice please - what have I done wrong? Or what should I have done and can anyone recommend some more unusual varieties to grow maybe next year which are easy to grow. Thanks C : )

[rustylady]

Not all potato varieties produce flowers. I think the problem with your potatoes is that they were left in the ground too long. How big are they? They might be better steamed than boiled.

[Alison]

Personally I don't rate Charlotte for the very reason that they fall apart, was a bit disappointment to me when I grew them. As RL says, they're OK steamed but that's about it really. Not your fault at all thought which is always a bonus.

[arpoet]

I cook all my veg in a pressure cooker so dont have much problem with them falling. My charlottes are small but nice and great with the skins on with steak.
Roger

[Claire J]

Thanks, I'll give steaming a go, they are a pretty good size for Charlottes C : )

[Nicos]

I always grow Charlottes...I think they're brill!
Cooking wise- I always steam them or chip them.
They don't mash well- but crush nicely rolled with a big blob of butter and a sprinkling of chives!
They also roast fine- but come up a bit waxy- but I like that.
If dug up early they make smashing baby new potatoes- skin n all- and if left until all the foliage has gone they get big enough ( in a good year ) to jacket.
I've always found they store well too.
This year we've only planted 100 charlotte spuds as we've managed to get hold of some main crop spuds for a bit of a change.
I don't think you've done anything wrong- you just need a variety of spuds which suits your 'tastes' better

[Potstubsdustbins]

I went off Charlotte a couple of years ago and changed to Lady Christl. These are a first early, but left in the ground they will easily grow to bakers/chippers. All round I find them a much nicer more versitile spud.

Colin

[Aberdeenplotter]

try putting them into boiling water when cooking as an alternative to bringing cold water to the boil. Works for me

[Alison]

try putting them into boiling water when cooking as an alternative to bringing cold water to the boil. Works for me

No tried that and they still went from bullets to mush in 10 seconds flat. Real shame after everything I'd heard about them.

[WendyC]

I was told that if spuds fall apart when boiled, that this is an indication that they didn't have enough water during the growing season. Certainly the Accord I have grown this year are falling apart. A level Biology student son gave me an explanation for it but I won't even attempt to repeat it! Haven't dug the Charlottes yet. Will have to wait and seen how they turn out.

[Alison]

It may be a water thing to some extent but some varieties are a lot worse for it that others. I always grow some Ulster Classic First Earlies and they stay great when boiled without any worries no matter how you treat them and are good boiled or mashed (never tried roasted so can't comment on that). Am thinking next year of not bothering with any second earlies as have never found a variety I'm happy with and doing a second planting of Classics to last me through to my various main crops.

[zazen999]

I pour boiling water over mine for about 5 seconds and then either roast or fry with onion. Absolutely lovely.

[Nicos]

I was told that if spuds fall apart when boiled, that this is an indication that they didn't have enough water during the growing season.

Agree with you there!
In the past my Charlottes have been fairly waxy but for the past 3-4 yrs they've certainly been more 'fragile' when being cooked.

[chris]

I love Charlottes - I tend to simmer them if they're going to be a 'boiled' potato, as I found too much of a boil would break them up, take longer to cook but the taste of them is amazing. Steaming, as said also works well. I picked mine small though, so they didn't take that much cooking.

[BUFFS]

the breaking up isnt to do with lack of water,just type of spud,i leave mine out on trays in a dark shed for a month,theres only 2 of us,and this seems to help but charlotte willl always be prone to breakup,steaming is as said the easy answer...enjoy..