Potato Varieties - Here are my choices

[Allotmenthacker]

Dear All,

I've done a bit of research and I'm still uming and ahing about which potatoes to plant this year. I've got a fair selection to choose from this year:
Swift
Nadine
Casablanca
Duke of York (FE) -
Pentland Javelin (FE)
Rocket (FE) - Boring taste
Bonnie (SE)
Charlotte (SE)
King Edward (MC)
Colleen (Salad)
Arran Pilot (FE)
Maris Peer (SE)
Desiree (MC) -
Pink fir apple
International Kidney
Ratte
Maris Piper

But how do you decide if it's the first time you've grown potatoes?

Anyone got any tasty favorites from the above?

[SarzWix]

Charlotte, always. Desiree too, but can be prone to blight. Ratte are lovely, but didn't produce many last year. But then nothing produced much last year Swift are pretty boring taste-wise as well, but they are quick.

[zazen999]

Charlotte, Kestrel, Amorosa and Mr Little's Yeltolm Gypsy.

[marcofez]

Love Charlotte but trying different varieties as well. Epicure and Picasso this year.

[Alison]

The best on your list by a mile are the PFA, really lovely spuds which keep well and give you the salad taste in the middle of winter. That said, I've not grown most of your varieties but avoid Charlotte as, although prolific, just fall apart on cooking. Have tried International Kidney and they're OK but there are nicer varieties in my oppinion. I tend to chose types that are recommended for taste but also for their natural resistance to the likes of blight as there's no way I'm going to spray and a bit of extra protection is good. OH also likes some non standard coloured varieties so I throw in a few of the likes of Salad Blue for a bit of a change.

[Doive]

This year I'm growing lots to see what really work, and which ones we like - next year I'll be more selective.

First Earlies -
Accord
Pentland Javelin
Red Duke of York
Swift

Second Earlies -
Edzell
Estima
Kestrel
Shetland Black

Mains -
Blue Belle
Mayan Twilight
Picasso
Pink Fir Apple
Highland Burgundy
Salad Blue

Still have a couple of potato bags left over, so tempted to pick up one or two more varieties. Ulster Classic or Sceptre if they have them.

[arronb]

Doive

I've grown Estima for the past few years now and they're a heavy cropper. I harvested 2012's in September and decided to store them, I am still eating them now and only just opened the last sack! They taste great and we've had a variety of sizes even bakers!

[Aberdeenplotter]

For the kitchen, I'll be growing red DOY - early, Kestrel - 2nd Early, Sarpo Mira - Maincrop. I'll alsogrow a few others but the foregoing are the staples.

[Moopmoop]

Another vote for Charlotte, mine don't fall apart on cooking, maybe cook for a minute or two less.

[Acanthus]

Sarpo Mira here, bred from blight resistant varieties in Hungary, did very very well for me last year but not for everyone . Also good old king Edwards, and pfa

[Samurailord]

I'm also a first time grower of potatoes, and this year I have gone for

Anya
Maris Piper
Pentland Javelin
Bambino
Salad Blue
Casablanca

I have tried to get a couple of first earlies, a couple of second earlies and a couple of main crop (although some of the web sources I have looked at put some of the varieties in different groups) so that I can spread the potential harvest across as wide a time scale as possible.

Andy

[Barking Postlethwaite]

Pink Fir are a lovely salad potato. Not particularly heavy croppers, but last year they managed to put in a full growing season while everything else collapsed with blight very early.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

This year Apache, Gourmadine (really delish) and thanks to a seed circle I'm also growing Skagit Magic.

[Thelma Sanders]

Lady Christl early, Charlotte 2nds, Desiree main crop.
Got sent 10 free Blue Belle, also maincrop, which are new to me - so we'll see what they're like

[Allotmenthacker]

Thanks guys! Definitely going to try out the pink fir apple, and I've got some swift for first earlies.

Will take the rest on recommendation - I've discovered the allotment shop this week, and they might have a few other varieties to choose from.