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Post by oldmoleskins on Nov 9, 2006 9:15:18 GMT
going to admit yet another gap in the gardening knowledge and expose myself to ridicule - but I've only just come across this maincrop variety (in our local farmshop) and want to share with you... large red, good all round kitchen use (fabulous baker), wonderful flavour... Stemster[/b].
Apologies if everyone knows that...
OM.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2006 10:43:29 GMT
Mines a Roast one ;D
Sorry, couldn't resist. I'll keep my eye on this thread closely as I want to plant some this year but have no ideas about which variety to try.
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Post by Spruance on Nov 9, 2006 11:29:21 GMT
I don't have the space for main crop potatoes, but for first earlies, it has to be Ulster Sceptre again next year.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2006 11:41:19 GMT
Not being a massive spud eater, I tend to choose our tatties with flavour being uppermost. The other point to bear in mind is that the soil conditions can be unique to your plot, and so only practical trials will indicate the best spuds for you. As an example, I grew Cara and Desiree on the same plot, adjacent to each other last year. The Desiree was a pitiful yield, perhaps 20kg of a 3kg bag. The Cara on the other hand, were consistently impressive, every root had two or three large bakers and masses of decent sized tubers, yielding perhaps 100kg. I find this variety, although it is a big commercial favourite, to provide a reliable tasty spud off my plot. For first earlies, I have no better produce than International Kidney (Jersey Royal), although I would not claim they have the same delicious flavour as the true Jersey spuds.
This next season, my potato order will be a case of Hobson's choice, since our regular allotment source has now ceased trading. One of the members has organised a private supply, so I asked for Cara, plus two other varieties 'at his discretion'.
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 9, 2006 11:59:18 GMT
I'll keep my eye on this thread closely as I want to plant some this year but have no ideas about which variety to try. Me to paul, I'm clearing an area for veggies but it's taking longer than I thought. It won't be massive and like you Sprunace I will have no space for main crop potatoes but would just like to grow say 3 plants to be able to dig them up and say I've grown them. Will be begging them from a lottie mate so will have to be what ever he grows  . My plan is to grow some in containers, I have some old plastic vegetable oil tubs that are about 12" across and 17" deep. |
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Post by mickthecactus on Nov 9, 2006 12:47:47 GMT
I certainly haven't cracked it on my current allotment. The soil is somewhat stony and free draining (too free draining). I plant in trenches in to which i put compost from the bins to help conserve moisture but it made no difference this year. The crop from earlies and second earlies (Wilja) was pathetic. Couldn't get enough water down to them.
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Post by isabella on Nov 9, 2006 15:52:04 GMT
We grow
Charlotte
Pink fir Apple
Kestrel
Marfona
Maris Piper
King Edward and
Desiree
In my opinion Marfona make the best ever Jackets and Maris Piper the best chips!!
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Post by lottielady on Nov 9, 2006 19:40:14 GMT
Havent got a favorite really as this was my first year. I had... International Kidney - not brilliant - think they are only good if grown in Jersey Lady Christl - which were lovely in containers and even better from the lottie Desiree - which unfortunately I haven't been able to dig up from the lottie as I haven't been well enough  LL x |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Nov 9, 2006 20:12:46 GMT
sorry to hear you're hors de combat LL - hope you're restored to full rude spud-digging health soon!
OM.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2006 20:28:36 GMT
Addendum ...
Sorry to hear your International Kidney were not up to scratch LL, perhaps that is for the reasons I have already discussed.
Regarding the best potatoes I have ever grown, then I think I must perhaps take my hat off to pink fir apple. Giving the salad potato taste from a late main crop, their only down side is trying to peel them? I tend to use a metal scourer and just scrub. Incidentally, they make the most divine chips, salt is not needed, and my children have even wolfed down the cold leftovers !
On the earlies front, I have also enjoyed Charlotte (classed as 2nd early I think) but a bit too floury for requirements, which are mostly salads, hence waxy is preferred. I must try them in gnochhi if I grow them again ...
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Post by oldmoleskins on Nov 10, 2006 11:43:56 GMT
I'll keep my eye on this thread closely as I want to plant some this year but have no ideas about which variety to try. Me to paul, I'm clearing an area for veggies but it's taking longer than I thought. It won't be massive and like you Sprunace I will have no space for main crop potatoes but would just like to grow say 3 plants to be able to dig them up and say I've grown them. Will be begging them from a lottie mate so will have to be what ever he grows . My plan is to grow some in containers, I have some old plastic vegetable oil tubs that are about 12" across and 17" deep. BB, I grew some Pentland Javelins this year in containers about that size using compost from growbags that hadn't been used. I put 3 seed Javelins on 6" of compost and covered them, then 'earthed up' with more compost til there was about 15" in total. I didn't start until maybe July/early August and had a rootle around in the compost to harvest a few in October - they were very good. I've left the rest to die back and now they're in a shed undisturbed - hopefully ready for xmas. I gave one tub to my little neice who loves potatoes and had never seen them growing - she loved pulling them up and digging around with her hands for 'prizes'!! OM. ps make some drainage holes in your tubs... |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2006 12:35:06 GMT
Hi there, good thread, getting ideas 8)
Just a quick question though. I remember being told earlier in the year that you can grow potatoes on the surface of the soil and cover the bed in black polythene, that way you don't need to dig them up. Is this true or was someone just pulling my leg?
Paul
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Post by Spruance on Nov 10, 2006 12:40:52 GMT
It is certainly possible to grow potatoes under black polythene, but I think that the tubers would still need to be planted in the ground. This HDRA link covers the various options available for growing potatoes... www.hhdra.org.uk/potcult.htm#methods |
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Nov 10, 2006 13:25:01 GMT
Lottie very kindly sent me some of her Lady Christl seed pots. I grew them in containers and had a fabulous crop and they were absolutely delicious! Thanks LL |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2006 13:37:20 GMT
... from what you're all saying, it seems possible to grow potatoes in containers - what kind of a crop do you get? (I know this is a silly question but I've nver grown spuds). My partner, who's the household cook, is always complaining that all you can buy are Roosters and Maris Pipers, so it would be nice to try some of the varieties you all mention, but we have no space in the open ground so it would have to be containers on the patio ... cheers ...
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Post by lottielady on Nov 10, 2006 14:31:58 GMT
Hi there, good thread, getting ideas 8) Just a quick question though. I remember being told earlier in the year that you can grow potatoes on the surface of the soil and cover the bed in black polythene, that way you don't need to dig them up. Is this true or was someone just pulling my leg? Paul As Spruance said Paul you still have to plant them through the plastic -but it means you don't have to earth them up once they start growing - think it means more slugs too LL x |
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Post by lottielady on Nov 10, 2006 14:33:17 GMT
sorry to hear you're hors de combat LL - hope you're restored to full rude spud-digging health soon! OM. Thanks OM - I expect the slugs are munching on the spuds now though LL x |
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Post by lottielady on Nov 10, 2006 14:38:19 GMT
For all of you who would like to try them in containers next year these are the instructions - written by David Knapper - for us earlier this year. You can use any container that you feel is big enough.
POTS IN POTS
Here's a method I've tried many times, and it does work.
Take a builder’s 3 gallon bucket.
Drill about 20 or so smallish holes in the bottom.
Cover the base with 3 inches of compost.
Place 3 chitted seed potatoes (spaced out & eyes uppermost) on top of this compost.
Add enough compost to cover them completely.
*When the shoots emerge, cover them again with compost and so on until the bucket is full.
*This repeated covering of the seed is a substitute for earthing-up in the open ground and avoids the possibility of having green inedible potatoes on the surface.
Deciding when the new potatoes are ready can be a little tricky as you wouldn't want to turn them out before they are ready, a little judicious probing into the compost should reveal all.
A tell sign is when the stems thicken and are no longer spindly.
LL x
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Nov 10, 2006 17:24:22 GMT
I planted 5 in a huge pot. Got at least 15 meals out of it! Couldn't believe how easy it was. I'm definately going to do more next year ;D
S x
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Post by lottielady on Nov 10, 2006 18:00:54 GMT
Lottie very kindly sent me some of her Lady Christl seed pots. I grew them in containers and had a fabulous crop and they were absolutely delicious! Thanks LL You forgot to say how nicely they were packaged Susie LLx <veryproudofherpackagingsmiley> |
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Nov 10, 2006 18:56:50 GMT
................and very nicely packaged they were too . Considering they took about a month to get here (thanks Royal Mail), they were in perfect condition....all due to the absolutely fantastic packaging ;D S <thinkIgotitrightthistimesmiley> xx |
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Post by skarloey on Nov 10, 2006 19:01:56 GMT
After all that time in the post they must have chitted nicely Susie. ;D
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Post by Susie Snowdrop on Nov 10, 2006 19:07:29 GMT
6ft tall Skarloey |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Nov 11, 2006 13:05:08 GMT
talking of chitting...
while I'm in the spud confessional, I might as well get this out of the way as well...
back in September I shared with you a Fred Loades tip on producing xmas new potatoes by first hanging them on wires outside (I kid you not).
I said at the time it was probably too late to start... just had a look at my two 'strings' and there's no sign of chitting... so that ain't going to work...
OM.
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Post by Chuckles on Nov 19, 2006 10:31:47 GMT
BB, I grew some Pentland Javelins this year in containers about that sizeOM. ps make some drainage holes in your tubs... Thanks for that OM  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2006 21:51:08 GMT
I grow Lady Christyl (scrummy) and Nicola and both give good crops, even in this dry year. Next season I'm growing Lady Christyl again (just love this new potatoe with butter mmmmm), and trying Swift and Vanessa to see how they grow. In the past i've tried Charlotte and Edzell Blues...was disappointed with Charlotte but the Edzell blues were ok but I wasn't keen on the bluey coloured skin...just a personal thing. |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Dec 3, 2006 21:55:25 GMT
mmm.... know what you mean about edzell's... a sort of novelty vegetable too far...
OM.
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Post by oldmoleskins on Dec 28, 2006 11:53:25 GMT
Me to paul, I'm clearing an area for veggies but it's taking longer than I thought. It won't be massive and like you Sprunace I will have no space for main crop potatoes but would just like to grow say 3 plants to be able to dig them up and say I've grown them. Will be begging them from a lottie mate so will have to be what ever he grows . My plan is to grow some in containers, I have some old plastic vegetable oil tubs that are about 12" across and 17" deep. BB, I grew some Pentland Javelins this year in containers about that size using compost from growbags that hadn't been used. I put 3 seed Javelins on 6" of compost and covered them, then 'earthed up' with more compost til there was about 15" in total. I didn't start until maybe July/early August and had a rootle around in the compost to harvest a few in October - they were very good. I've left the rest to die back and now they're in a shed undisturbed - hopefully ready for xmas. I gave one tub to my little neice who loves potatoes and had never seen them growing - she loved pulling them up and digging around with her hands for 'prizes'!! OM. ps make some drainage holes in your tubs... Happy New Year to you lot, and, especially for BB - we had perfect new potatoes with our boiled bacon on Boxing Day... so it worked like a charm. OM. |
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Post by Chuckles on Dec 28, 2006 21:53:57 GMT
Happy New Year to you lot, and, especially for BB - we had perfect new potatoes with our boiled bacon on Boxing Day... so it worked like a charm. OM. I'm sooooo pleased OM bet they were delish. Be giving that ago next year. My veg area is really coming on now and is bigger than I thought so will have room for some main crop Tats ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2007 19:19:01 GMT
I like the red variety and a waxy taste and I need help in the name of potatoe I should buy.
I have three raised beds but I have space to grow potatoes near my raised beds , would it be better to plant them in the raised beds, or should I save the raised beds for other veg I am hoping to grow this year.
Are there an idiot proof spuds for a beginner.
Thanks
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. My plan is to grow some in containers, I have some old plastic vegetable oil tubs that are about 12" across and 17" deep.
