Vivaldi - 1st or 2nd earlies?

[bussinspain]

Can any tell me whether Vivaldi are 1st or 2nd earlies please? I have found conflicting answers on the net. My seed potatoes have got some lovely short, strong looking sprouts on them and look nearly ready for planting out.

[Nicola.P]

I bought some vivaldi and they were sold to me as mains not earlies.

[Guest]

At my potato day (East Anglian) they were sold as second earlies. If enough grapes answer it isn't going to help you in the slightest

[bussinspain]

Can any tell me whether Vivaldi are 1st or 2nd earlies please? I have found conflicting answers on the net. My seed potatoes have got some lovely short, strong looking sprouts on them and look nearly ready for planting out.

Just done some more seraching and I find them listed as 2nd earlies AND maincrop potatoes - HELP!

[spamvindaloo]

I thought they were second earlies

[Penellype]

The difference between earlies and main crops is the length of time they spend in the ground before the potatoes are ready, not the time of planting (although some people plant earlies very early to get a quick crop of new potatoes). If you are worrying that they need planting out earlier because they might be earlies, then don't - they can both be planted at the same time. If you are trying to decide where to put them because you might want to use that space for another vegetable planted in mid summer, then I would assume they are maincrop and that they will not be ready in time.

I'm quite sure that there is a range of potatoes from first early to late maincrop, and that some varieties will fall in the grey area between two categories. That's probably the cause of the confusion.

[Kristen]

Dunno if it helps but the British potato Council has a Variety Database:

Varieties

"Vivaldi is recognised by retailers as a sought after variety by the British consumer both as a 'baby potato' and as maincrop."

No idea what that means though, sorry!

[Nicola.P]

That would fit as in Sainsburys you can buy Vivaldi new potatoes and also Vivaldi normal and bakers. Maybe you pull them as 2nd earlies if you want them new pots and leave them in longer if you want main spuds?

[Thelma Sanders]

They are just another potato variety , like Pentland Javelin, that is good as new potatoes and also as maincrop. There must be other varieties like this.

So it's just up to you when you dig them up

[Chippy Minton]

Like what they said only wordier.....

Could be a curve ball but I'd assume it could be both From the listings it sounds like one of those that if harvested early then it's a nice salad potato, if left until the haulms die down it serves as a maincrop. My Potato book doesn't have Vivaldi (have to get a new one ) but it does say that International Kidney is waxy if picked "prematurely", presumably as an early, and floury if left to mature.

I'd say if picked as an early (after flowering if indeed it flowers) it'll be a nice salad potato (and that's how I've bought it from the supermarkets), but if left to full maturity it'll possibly still be a good 'un.

As usual the only way to find out is to harvest half early and half at full term..... and then come back and tell us how the experiment went

[bearded bloke]

Just to help with the confusion I have grown Vivaldi as most things including late planting for Christmad Day new potatoes

I think they are called Vivaldi because he wrote The Four Seasons, intimation that they can be grown at any time of the year perhaps

[datz]

As has been said above, many spuds can be used as Earlies and/or maincrop. I've planted Mona Lisa the last couple of years. They make nice new potatoes but also bulk up well if left in and store well. So I think you will be fine however you choose to use them.

[bussinspain]

oh ecky thump I will plant/harvest as 1st earlies for lubberly new salad potatoes, 2nd earlies - just because I can and then main crop potatoes because I am such a rebel! :O:! Experimentation coming up - watch this space later in the year.

[veggiechicken]

Don't forget to replant a few for Christmad as well

[bearded bloke]

Seriously they were my best crop of Christad new potatoes I've had in several years of trying different varieties

Apparently they are called Vivaldi because .....

can be enjoyed in any season

.... according to their own webpage ..... Vivaldi - Albert Bartlett