Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: New shoot on December 03, 2017, 08:35
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...and if so, what have you got, she says being nosy :lol:
I've gone a bit off piste this year and ordered Lady Christl, Anya and Kifli, all due for delivery in January :D
Lady C are for the plot and a few extra earlies in the greenhouse, plus they get raved about on here.
Anya because I grew them years ago, they were very productive and tasty, but somehow I've sort of forgotten about them since.
Kifli beaause I tried them this year, got loads, they are storing well and I really like them as well.
I might buy some small packs of others like Kestrel when The Range does its 3 for £5 offer, but I know they won't have the ones I have ordered.
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Nah - can't be bothered to order online. It means waiting around for parcels and paying postage. Local garden centre has done us well enough over the years. So long as there are King Edwards in the mix the kids will be happy.
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Nice thread ;)
I ordered Pentland Javelins and Desiree, the old reliables, while the free p&p offers were on :D
Now the bigger plot has been confirmed, I've been looking at getting 'something different', but can't see any free p&p offers, so probably just wait to see what Wyevale and Wilko have in, after the holidays.
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No, I can't see the point in ordering them now. They don't go in until late March, so no need to order until late January at the earliest, which will still give them time to chit. I've no plans to try starting super-early potatoes in a greenhouse.
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I can certainly recommend Lady C, and this year I grew Kifli, and was impressed with the quality of the potatoes and the heavy crop produced. I haven't grown Anya, so can't comment on that one. I did try a few tubers of Manitou, a main crop red potato, and they produced a good, clean crop, and so this year I'm growing these instead of Desiree, which, for the past couple of years have been disappointing on my plot.
I think it often depends on personal taste, and different soils will produce different results, so each year I just do a trial row of about five that I haven't grown before, and if any of them prove to be better than my usual spuds I use the new one instead. That way you can be sure that you like the taste and texture, and that it will perform well on your own plot.
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I got free P&P and have the postman well trained in the art of hiding plant parcels ;)
Having seed spuds in the shed in January gets me through the dreary early months in the year. Just like sowing onions from seed on Boxing Day. Yes I know there is no rush and it could all get done later, but it makes me happy :D
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I prefer to go to a local garden centre where they have them loose in a box so you can pick out the size and the quantity you prefer.
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Taking advantage of Cyber Monday free p&P, the usual Anya and Picasso + some Sarpo Kifli to try.
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Sarpo mira and axona for me. If you want specific varieties they might not be available later.
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yes already ordered my next years seed about a month ago Cara for main crop and some charlotte I always buy some early varieties from our local garden centre they sell there seed the old fashioned way you help yourself picking what you want
not sure on what early variety to buy got plenty of time they don't usually have the seed till the end of January there's not much difference in price buying from my usual supplier to the garden centre even counting the delivery charges about £2quid in it
I usually get my main crop seed delivered around early February and box them up I don't know if that's a good idea as some of my friends plant there seed straight from the packet or bag but I've always boxed my seed to chit prior to planting :unsure:
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Just 1kg Ambo online as hard to get hold of. Will buy Charlottes locally and that's it!
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Saved enough from this years crop all nastie and beastie free.
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We're only growing first earlies this year. Our local garden centre charges by the bag and you can mix and match to your heart's content, so we're basically going to a grow as many varieties as they stock, just for the novelty!
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Lady Christl did very well for me this year (grown them before but they do have to contend with PCN on my plot and for some reason they resisted it far better than when I've grown them in previous years.)
Don't order online because I've only got the space for first earlies, although I might try growing a few in containers in the GH if only to do something with this years spent MP compost (it will be suitably enriched of course.)
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I will be getting mine from our local potato day in February. They haven't produced their list yet, but they normally have a very wide choice and excellent prices.
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Seed order went in ages ago with the Fed, Fed runs the sites here in Blackpool, we get really discount on them.
We also buy the seed spuds from the Fed shop when they are in.
They will be Charlotte and Desiree but cant remember what seeds I ordered :D till I see my order again which wont be too long now.
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is it wise to save your own sets for planting
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It's a bad idea because you can't see if the potatoes have a virus/disease which may only show in next year's crop. Some sources say it is ok for the first year, but after that you are bound to have virus/disease in there.
I know they did it in the past, so it is really up to you whether you want to take the risk, I prefer not to.
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I'd never ever plant my own - or supermarket spuds. For what they cost, it's really not worth it and I think irresponsible. OK 99.9% of the time you'd probably get away with it, but it only takes that 0.1%.
As for buying them, there's a nursery just down the road from us that I can get them from. They don't have the choice that the nursery that closed had, but they have the ones I'd choose.
I'm dropping Casablanca next year as they all fell apart - even when steamed, so it's the good old Lady Christl, Charlotte, Kestrel and Ambo.
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I'd never ever plant my own - or supermarket spuds. For what they cost, it's really not worth it and I think irresponsible. OK 99.9% of the time you'd probably get away with it, but it only takes that 0.1%.
As for buying them, there's a nursery just down the road from us that I can get them from. They don't have the choice that the nursery that closed had, but they have the ones I'd choose.
I'm dropping Casablanca next year as they all fell apart - even when steamed, so it's the good old Lady Christl, Charlotte, Kestrel and Ambo.
DD, did you get to look at Hawgrip nursery at Enderby, they had a good selection, almost as good as the Ansty one,Brookfield’s?
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DD, did you get to look at Hawgrip nursery at Enderby, they had a good selection, almost as good as the Ansty one,Brookfield’s?
That's where I got mine from this year, then I investigated Brooklea at Rothley. Whilst they didn't have the choice, they had the varieties I bought at Hawgrip's - and quite a bit cheaper (and closer!).
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for once i have got my self organised,have ordered setanta and charlotte,until now i have only bought what is left over,the setanta have provedd to be an alround spud in its 2nd time i grew them,first time wrecked with blight.
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DD, did you get to look at Hawgrip nursery at Enderby, they had a good selection, almost as good as the Ansty one,Brookfield’s?
That's where I got mine from this year, then I investigated Brooklea at Rothley. Whilst they didn't have the choice, they had the varieties I bought at Hawgrip's - and quite a bit cheaper (and closer!).
Hmm that’s interesting, I suppose diesel costs would make it work out even Stevens for me unless I happen to be that way out, have they a website?
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Hmm that’s interesting, I suppose diesel costs would make it work out even Stevens for me unless I happen to be that way out, have they a website?
They do, but I don't think it'll really help as to what they have in stock. This is the most relevant page:
https://www.gardencreationservices.co.uk/nursery/seasonal-vegetable-plants/
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Ordered from E.S.P. in Ockbrook,nr Derby.
Ready for collection in January.
Wonderful selection,excellent service and did really well last year.
This year we've ordered Swift,Foremost,Charlotte and Nadine.
JP,Sileby,Leics.
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Ordered from E.S.P. in Ockbrook,nr Derby.
Ready for collection in January.
Wonderful selection,excellent service and did really well last year.
This year we've ordered Swift,Foremost,Charlotte and Nadine.
JP,Sileby,Leics.
You'd have got those from across the road in Rothley!
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Possibly,but I like the product and price from E.S.P. and sometimes it's worth going the extra mile.
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Possibly,but I like the product and price from E.S.P. and sometimes it's worth going the extra mile.
They were actually quite a lot cheaper than the prices quoted on E.S.P.'s website.
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Lady Christl as my favourite first early
Vivaldi for its taste and versatility
Jazzy for its taste and performance
Setanta as simply the best roast potato out there and a must for the Christmas dinner :D
For the first year in ages I will not be growing Pink Fir Apple as I simply have not enough containers and it is now 5th in my favourites ranking.
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Got together with two friends to place our orders for potatoes and seed. Spuds are
Elfe
International Kidney
Maris Piper
Pentland Javelin
Ratte
Sarpo Mira
The spuds will easy to divvi up, but its going to get a lot more complicated with the seeds. I foresee a long winter of one for you, one for me and one for him. It'll be hell when we get to the carrots! We can always do it over a pint though, although things might get a bit more blurred.
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Have ordered 2 kg of Pentland Javelin,Ulster Sceptre, Cara, Harmony, King Edward. I hope to get some Red Rudolph my favourite maincrop. We are ordering them through our society from K G Loach ltd.
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Just as a follow, in case you don't spot it in another thread, Brooklea at Rothley, Leicestershire, advise me that their seed spuds will be out this weekend. List of varieties not yet available, but will only be £1.60 a kilo, or £1.40 for over 10 kilos.
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Happiness :) seed potatoes have arrived and are already on racks in our cellar with some light from a window.
Lady Christl, Jazzy, Vivaldi and Setanta. Feels like the first promise of the season to come. Vegetable seeds arrived soon after so all I need now is the year to roll forward a few months!
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couldn't get my pink fir apple from my G/C so got some from Wyevale 10 tubers for three quid
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Happiness :) seed potatoes have arrived and are already on racks in our cellar with some light from a window.
Me too :D I ordered a few Kestrel from Suttons and they have pitched up. The main lot is still to come, but I have seed spuds in the shed (well fleeced for the next few nights).
There is something very reassuring about it all and it makes spring seem that tiny bit closer :)
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I ordered charlotte and setanta a while ago,just ordered a good all rounder maris piper,so i hope i have some for every way of cooking mash,chips new roast,and baking.
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'There is something very reassuring about it all and it makes spring seem that tiny bit closer :)'
Especially on those gray half light days that we have been having. I keep finding myself opening the cellar door just to admire them :D
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Our local independent garden centre have their seed spuds in. They carry loads of varieties and sell them loose. Brilliant :D
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Especially on those gray half light days that we have been having. I keep finding myself opening the cellar door just to admire them :D
:lol: :lol: :lol:
I know exactly what you mean ;) A rifle through the seed box or a bit of cooing over the seed spuds makes all the difference :D
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although I think I've got enough seed potatoes I couldn't resist trying 2 kilo of Ratte well listed as a salad potato I've never grown that variety but I'm sure someone has on this site so how do you rate them for taste
I also bought a couple of kilo of record seed potatoes described as old and rare variety could be true as I remember the farm I worked on growing them some 50 years ago so it will be a bit of nostalgia growing that seed again :nowink:
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Have just placed my order from the Scottish supplier, don't know why, except I've always done it and then topped up from our allotment shop if necessary. 2kg each of Red Duke of York, Charlotte and Kestral. I too enjoy the feeling of Spring coming if I have onion seeds starting and potatoes chitting....
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All the rest arrived today and I've ordered 1.5kg bags - I thought they were 1kg for some reason. I now have 5.5kg and the shed is a spudulicious paradise for gloating over :lol:
They are laid out and well fleeced. The crop we are eating are storing well in there, so I reckon they will be fine :)
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Mine arrived today: Anya, Picasso and (new for me) Kifli.
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Me too! Our Potato Day is this Saturday :) I normally order mine via the Shed but forgot :ohmy: I will deffo being getting my fave Charlottes and I might push the boat out and get a few Edzell Blue for roasting (fluffy inside, crispy outside) I do like a Winston, Arran Pilot and Desiree. At least with Potato Day you can buy one of each if you wish They have tastings usually as well, eg tubs of mash for you to test and they have a mash off at the end :tongue2:
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I picked mine up from our local nursery yesterday. I'm not going to grow main crop this year, so I've got Lady Cristl first early, enough for a couple of rows, and then I've chosen five tubers each of four different 2nd earlies that I've not tried before, to check if we like the texture and flavour and if they do well on my plot.
The nursery sells by weight, so you can pick as many or as few as you want.
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I've decided to cut down on the potato crop this year and grow some different stuff. But there are still charlottes for salads and pentland javelin for earlies chitting away. Spring will come .... :)
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I will be ordering mine tonight on line. I went into the Shop that I normally get them off but they are only carrying a small selection in the shop (mainly earlies and seconds at the moment) due to space restrictions but they have a massive range online and have free delivery on the amount I am ordering. I was able to get all the info on the varieties in the shop which was handy.
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They’d got no Edzel blue but I got Charlotte and Desiree. Some free fruit cake too 👍
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Casablanca
Anya
Belle de Fontenay
Pink Fir
Sunrise
The first three for eating during growing season and the others to store for winter.