Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Pumpkin-Kat on February 18, 2015, 20:58

Title: Best potato varieties.
Post by: Pumpkin-Kat on February 18, 2015, 20:58

I'm new to allotments, and have only grown a few vegetables in the garden before. I am keen to grow some main crop potatoes. Personally I prefer the ones with thicker brown skins for jacket spuds.
  The supermarket potatoes described as baking, just don't have nice skins that go crispy. Can anyone tell me which are the best brown skinned variety to grow?

Title: Re: Best potato varieties.
Post by: Kristen on February 19, 2015, 08:35

I don't know the answer to your specific question, but flavour is very subjective, so I recommend that you get a few seed potatoes of each of several varieties and do a trial to see which you and your family prefer.  You should be able to buy seed potatoes loose from your local garden centre, or from Potato Days locally, which should have far more varieties to choose from

I've not seen a good site for Potato Days events right across the country?? so probably best to Google for one near you.

Title: Re: Best potato varieties.
Post by: Kristen on February 19, 2015, 08:36

P.S. Does your allotment association have a "shop"? They often sell discounted seed potatoes and might have several varieties for you to try.

Title: Re: Best potato varieties.
Post by: snowdrops on February 19, 2015, 08:48

Have a look at Garden organic, you might have missed their potato day but they might still have some left & I bought a couple of booklets from them on potatoes. Alan Romans was once thought of the authority on potatoes,don't know if that is the same now.

Title: Re: Best potato varieties.
Post by: mumofstig on February 19, 2015, 09:11

Alan Romans was bought out by T&M  :(

Title: Re: Best potato varieties.
Post by: snowdrops on February 19, 2015, 20:23

Oh I didn't know that, I found my booklets & it did say Alan Romans, T & M. I shall have a look to see what varieties fit the bill for the OP

Title: Re: Best potato varieties.
Post by: Pumpkin-Kat on February 19, 2015, 23:49

Thank you I will have a look, it will probably just be a case of trying acouple of varieties and see which we like best.
My plot is in a village, and there are only 9 plots, there isn't even an association let alone a shop. The other plot holders have all been lovely, and very helpful though. x

Title: Re: Best potato varieties.
Post by: DD. on February 20, 2015, 08:13

May I suggest Ambo or Amour if you can get them locally. They're not a variety that DIY shops etc. stock. They produce a good quantity of baking sized spuds.

Title: Re: Best potato varieties.
Post by: Pumpkin-Kat on February 20, 2015, 18:08

Thank you DD I will look out for those :)

Title: Re: Best potato varieties.
Post by: tangojulie on February 20, 2015, 18:59

I usually grow Picasso, not an outstanding flavour but good enough. They are nice for baking and the yield is huge.

Title: Re: Best potato varieties.
Post by: SusieB on February 21, 2015, 07:59

And maybe try a few 1st earlies as well.  They are the ones that benefit from cooking and eating straight after picking.  So you can't get comparable from a shop.