Potatoes falling to bits

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Daisygirl

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Potatoes falling to bits
« on: August 02, 2012, 18:11 »
Hello everyone my first earlies are falling to bits when boiled >:(
Monty Don did a test on all of his first earlies on Friday and he said all but one of his fell to bits also and that this was due to too much rain; however last year when we hardly had any rain my potatoes were still the same!
Can anyone recommend first earlies and main crop that dont do this please?
Many thanks
Daisy
 :)

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arugula

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Re: Potatoes falling to bits
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2012, 18:16 »
What variety did you grow? Are you over watering them?

I find Lady Christl for a first early and Ambo for a maincrop both very well behaved under cooking.
« Last Edit: August 02, 2012, 18:18 by argyllie »
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fatcat1955

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Re: Potatoes falling to bits
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2012, 18:44 »
Try steaming them, they seem to hold their shape when i do this. I now grow Lady Christi, Charlotte and maris Piper. The only time i had to steam was last year with the Charlotte's.

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Daisygirl

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Re: Potatoes falling to bits
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2012, 19:22 »
Sharpes Express, Lady Christ and main crop Sarpo Mira which Ive not tried yet.
We didnt water them once they were in as we had soooooooooooooooooo much rain that we didnt need to.
Daisy

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starry

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Re: Potatoes falling to bits
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2012, 19:55 »
I have had Charlottes and "something" emerald the charlottes were the better out of the 2 but I think sometimes you only have to leave them a few minutes longer than needed and they dry and crumble still taste good though  :)
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sunshineband

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Re: Potatoes falling to bits
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2012, 20:11 »
I find that if they have had a lot of water, they take much less time to cook, and cut down the length of time in the pan

I have Lady Cristl, Rocket and Vanessa this year - Rocket cooks the fastest by some way
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Nikkithefoot

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Re: Potatoes falling to bits
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2012, 20:26 »
I find those spuds dug and cooked the same day are more likely to fall apart when cooked. The longer they are out the ground the longer (but only by a minute or two) they take to cook without falling apart.
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Judd

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Re: Potatoes falling to bits
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2012, 21:56 »
My Lady C's and Charlottes cook perfectly :D
It's better to burn out than to fade away !!     ;)

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bazh

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Re: Potatoes falling to bits
« Reply #8 on: August 03, 2012, 00:00 »
I've only grown one lot of 1st earlies this year Rocket and there absolutely suberb cook perfectly and taste probably the best ever are you sure your not over cooking them?

I'm not sure if it's the wet weather but my only other spuds Charlottes are great too (although the nettles grew higher)

Monty Don seems to have a problem with first earlies sure it was Duke of york last year perhaps he should stick to growing flowers lol
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Plot74

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Re: Potatoes falling to bits
« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2012, 00:52 »
I have rocket and they are cooking just fine taste good and not a bad yield so far.
 
I have 2rows of main crop but for the like of me I can't remember the name of them they were bought through the allotment association as one of the most popular brands .
John
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arugula

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Re: Potatoes falling to bits
« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2012, 07:41 »
We didnt water them once they were in as we had soooooooooooooooooo much rain that we didnt need to.
Daisy

I asked about watering, as you said they did the same last year when it didn't rain constantly.

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lizziesdad

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Re: Potatoes falling to bits
« Reply #11 on: August 03, 2012, 10:03 »
I grew Foremost both last and this year as Earlies and King Ed's, Kerr's Pinks and Majestic as main. All cook perfectly. My wife doesn't scrape them at this time - just scrubs them with a veg brush and then either steams or boils them - lovely!

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Goosegirl

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Re: Potatoes falling to bits
« Reply #12 on: August 03, 2012, 14:07 »
Grew Charlottes and Vivaldi and we just scrape the skin and boil them gently, but not as long as, say, main crops. Test with a little knife or fork after about 10  mins and see.
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