What is your favourite new potato variety?

[Laura Hillier]

Hi Everyone,

Undoubtedly one of the most exciting times in a gardener's calendar is digging those first spuds from the soil. Planting time is looming and we wanted to know, what is your favourite variety of new potato? We know that it's difficult task to pick just one!

Answers may be edited and published in the June issue of Grow Your Own


Laura

[Thelma Sanders]

I used to grow Pentland Javelin, but a friend persuaded me to try Lady Chrystl - and I've grown it ever since. It tastes lovely and yields well for me

[Aberdeenplotter]

Absolutely no doubt in my mind that Red Duke of York( a sport off white Duke of York) is the absolute best early potato available. On the down side, it is very prone to damage from blight but being an early should be off the ground or at least mature enough to be able to remove the shaws/haulms should there be an outbreak.

Makes great mash or chips/roasties. Does need care when boiling as it can tend to go into soup if ignored. I cook by adding boiling water to start with which results in nice firm spuds instead of soup.

The first boiling of the year with some butter is sooooo delish.

[VirginVegGrower]

Red Duke of York for me on taste alone and of course first of the earlies, although I also like a nice Charlotte in a salad.

[Moopmoop]

Has to be Charlotte for me, always had good results growing in bags and there is plenty of them. Lovely taste hot or cold, I've never grown any other other potatoes so I guess I'm a bit biased but they're so good I've never considered any other kind.

[Mikey]

I don't grow a first early, but my first spuds of the year are International Kidney, otherwise known as a Jersey Royal. I've been growing them for the past couple of years, and really enjoy their earthy firm flesh when picked young. I never get them all and what's left is allowed to fully mature, when they make beautiful floury mash.

[bearded bloke]

That's odd Mikey I have International Kidney as first early,boiled & cooled to eat with salad,then Rocket for boiled with butter & for mashed.Also trying Home Guard this year for the first time.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Lady Chrystl has been my main stay for a number of years. It taste's great and I find it gives good yields when grown in my containers. Another plus is that if it is left in the ground it grows on to make great bakers and chippers.

The pics are of Lady C.

Having said that this year after recommendations from this site I am also trying Red Duke of York.

Colin

[Mikey]

That's odd Mikey I have International Kidney as first early,boiled & cooled to eat with salad,then Rocket for boiled with butter & for mashed.Also trying Home Guard this year for the first time.

'IK' I believe is a second early, rather than a first, not that it performed well last year will all the rain we had. I'm giving some miro sarpo a go this year amongst my desiree maincrop, just in case the weather is as bad this year.

[arronb]

The best for me personally has to be FOREMOST. Heavy cropper with an average of 15-18 potatoes per seed for the last 3 years (I've kept a record) The taste is great and is quite a quick grower.

[marcofez]

"Charlotte" potatoes are our favourite, so growing again this year. Still trying out different varieties. The others I'm trying this year are "epicure" 1st earlies and "picasso" maincrop.

[Alison]

I always find it interesting that so many people rate Charlotte as I found that they were terrible in my soil, really difficult to cook and fell apart at the slightest hit of cooking so I keep well away from them now. My favourite for first earlies is Ulster Classic without a shadow of a doubt, really lovely spuds and well worth growing. I usually put half of the in the polytunnel for an early crop and the others in an outside bed for a few weeks later - lovely just boiled in their skins but mash well too.

[scorpius]

Im just grateful for any that actually grow here not very successful with spuds.

[Laura Hillier]

All great choices! All of this talk of chips, mash and roasties made from freshly dug spuds is making me hungry! What would everyone say is their most reliable new potato?
Has anybody tried any unusual varieties and found them to be successful enough to usurp the old faithfuls?

Laura

[Plot10]

I'm trying Navan for the first time, I got it in B&M bargains. Never seen it before but attracted by the name as Navan in Armagh is one of my favourite places.