potatoes

[gardengeordie]

what types of potatoes are you planting? im trying to get an idea of the best types to grow thanks

[Penellype]

First early - Lady Christl. I haven't grown these before but highly recommended by several people on here.
2nd early - Charlotte. Reliable, high yielding new potatoes, some of which get quite big. Good for planting in the summer for autumn/winter crops.
Main crop - Desiree. Good all round old variety excellent for mash and chips.
Main crop - Sarpo Mira. Blight resistant so grown as insurance. Not quite the flavour of Desiree but can make huge potatoes so good if you like bakers.

[gardengeordie]

thanks when would be the best times to plant to provide a good supply

[Martin H]

Plant them over Easter. The earlies will be ready to harvest first, some time in June.

[gardengeordie]

thanks again are second crop potatoes after the main crop

[Snadger]

I mainly grow tatties for their taste. Everyone has different tastes so its hard to advocate a variety. Different varieties prefer different soils, and some grow better and tastier in differing locations.

For instance, Jersey Royals (International Kidney) taste lovely, but having tried them myself couldn't simulate the Jersey climate or soil here in North East England so they grew huge and tasteless.

King Edwards do poorly on my soil along with Red Duke of York. Pink Fir Apple do well on my soil and taste delicious if you can be bothered to scrub the nobbly tubers.
Desiree are boring but tasteful.My favourites are Elfe and Kestrel, both of which do well on my plot and taste nice.

If you are new to potato growing it pays to plant a selection and form your own opinions!

[Martin H]

Roughly, Earlies take 3 months after planting to be ready, Second Earlies take 4 months, Maincrop take 5 months.

[Bacchus]

My personal favourite is Arron Victory (blues)

[hellybore]

If you have limited space, stick to first or second earlies, then you can plant another crop in the same space once you lift them. I grew Charlotte last year and was very pleased with yield and flavour. Growing them again this year and trying Jazzy.

[pepper1000]

I am growing pentland javelin, charlotte, king Edwards and picasso. I grew sarpo mira last year loads of huge potatoes but really didn't like the taste of them

[WendyC]

Are you growing at home or an allotment. If you are at an allotment, you could ask other plot holders for their recommendations, as Snadger says different growing conditions affect the potatoes flavour and texture. For example Charlotte is highly recommended but every time I grow it the potatoes are really horrible.

[Root66]

This season: Lady Christl, Desiree, Red duke of York, Arron Pilot, International Kidney and Sharpe's Express

[bearded bloke]

This year

First Early are Chopin, reason ..... So I could put the bag of seeds on Mrs.BB's piano & demand she played them a tune seriously that was the reason

Second Early are Cerisa, reason ... they are a French salad variety & I like potato salad with my green salad

Early Main are Red Robin, reason ... they are a Shropshire variety & working on the same theory as Snadger & then Wendy said different growing conditions affect the potatoes flavour and texture, so in theory they should be ideal for me.

[Paulieb]

Gerenrally, I would say it's worth planting 1sts 2nds and main crop all at the same time (Easter is a common time, purely because that's when people normally have lots of free time).

However, I usually start a few little buckets of 1st earlies off in the GH throughout february and into March to try to get a few nice early salad spuds in May, and even at the end of April if the weather is good.

Also I know lots of people go just for 1sts and 2nds as main crop spuds are fairly cheap, however something like Pink Fir apple have great flavour compared to shop bought.

A good trait for a main crop spud is how long they store. I've stored Sarpo Mira from harvest in September right through to March before.

[Jungle Jane]

First & second earlies I've grown before & growing again are red duke of york,Arran pilot,Nicola & British queen,couldn't find vales emerald so I've got a few new ones to try lady christl,sharpes express & pink fir apple. This year I've got some rooster main crop,I don't usually grow main crop but I read some good reviews on here about them.