[Kristen]

I've only really grown New Potatoes and Pink Fir Apple in the past.

In the Winter we buy quite a lot of potatoes for roasting - so Mrs K tells me I need to grow spuds that "are a decent-ish size, and roast well"

The only thing I managed to turn up with a search (might not have done a good job though ...) was Iain's recommendation for Setanta

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=49396.msg583836#msg583836

... as well as a few posts saying "Useless for roasts" 

(Heavy clay soil here)

Any recommendations please?

[DD.]

This may be useful:


http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/potato/potato-flavour-type.php

[Lardman]

I can  hear a can of worms being opened  

I roasted some of my PJ's last year and they were fine. Storage wise I still have some smaller ones in the cupboard with less chits on than the rooster I bought from the supermarket last week.

Try a couple of varieties and let the boss decide which she prefers.

[DD.]

My personal favourite is "Ambo".

Great bakers as well.

[Cavolo Nero]

Not sure as I've just started, but my plot neighbours swear by rooster and strangely, Shetland black.

[zazen999]

Amorosa and Kestrel.

[Iain@JBA]

I would go for Kestrel. A great all round potato.
Desiree won't like heavy clay soil.

[Aidy]

Ramano for me, but I grow my veg on reclaimed beach.

[madcat]

Ask her what sort of potato she likes to buy for the job in the shops (shift the choice/blame!), and then see if it is okay for your soil. 

[Kristen]

Thanks for all the advice.  Good plan to ask Chef what we normally buy 

[Kristen]

Chef says "King Edwards"

Dunno if they are a good choice for Clay / relative immunity to Pests and Diseases?

Others with similar cooking characteristics but easier husbandry?

Otherwise I'm going to give King Edwards a bash this year.

[davethespread]

i grew maris piper for roasting they crisp up brilliantly and have an excellant flavour,they stored well too or at least untill mice found them

[Muddylou]

I'm growing Kestrel (grew them last year and made great roast tatties), I'm growing Lady Balfour as a main crop because of their supposed long storage and large yield.
Here's hoping.

[madcat]

Chef says "King Edwards"

Dunno if they are a good choice for Clay / relative immunity to Pests and Diseases?

Others with similar cooking characteristics but easier husbandry?

Otherwise I'm going to give King Edwards a bash this year.

Ian is around on this forum and this is the entry from his website (he grows seed potatoes for a living).  Or alternatively this one is also a good reference.

[Salad Fingers]

I think it really depends on what sort of potato you like. We have heavy clay soil too, last year we grew Maris Piper. The potatoes grew and stored well but they were too floury for our taste. They did go crispy on the outside and were fluffy in the middle  but because they are floury they can absorb quite a bit of fat on the outside.

My favourite potato for roasting is Marfona. This is actually a second early. They are also good for chips and jacket potatoes. They aren't a floury potato.

I tried to grow Marfona because I'd had them from the green grocers and were my favourite then. I think trying some potatoes from another allotment holder or trying a variety from a green grocers is a good start. We grew 3kg of Duke of York the first year and didn't like them. It's a lot of potatoes to get rid of if you don't like them!

Hope that helps!