[arugula]

You're doing well getting Charlottes in October.

[compostqueen]

I once dug up some Charlottes in November and they were perfect. I'd forgotten about them 

Charlottes - good crop of immaculate spuds
Winston - never grown these before but will do so again. Good yield of clean spuds. Good all rounder
Arran Pilot - I only dug the crop grown ones up today. Some lovely big ones which I shall use for bakers
Desiree - some huge tubers    Quite a scabby crop though, noticeably more scab on them than I've noticed in previous years

[veggirl]

I grew Majestic - approx a sack a row, and about three quarters are good baking size. Very little slug damage (unlike my second earlies, which were a disaster), so far three with a touch of scab, all others clean and unblemished, except where I stuck a fork through. To make it even better, my neighbour dug half of them for me, as I have a damaged shoulder, to pay back for borrowing my wheelbarrow!

[hamstergbert]

Rocket - singularly unimpressed.
Likewise the maincrop type whose variety escapes me.
Just a little disappointing all round.

However.....
'fell down the back of the veg rack and sprouted' unknown variety from a Morrisons value bag of cheapies, planted in flower tubs and treated with a certain benign neglect - absolutely brilliant again just like last year.   Terrific yield, wonderful flavour and smooth skin that scraped easily.  I am sorely tempted next year simply to accept the facts and grow just them!

[arugula]

However.....
'fell down the back of the veg rack and sprouted' unknown variety from a Morrisons value bag of cheapies, planted in flower tubs and treated with a certain benign neglect - absolutely brilliant again just like last year.   Terrific yield, wonderful flavour and smooth skin that scraped easily. 

It would be interesting to find out what variety these are.... The supermarket I buy potatoes from, when they need to be bought, often has Saxon as their un-named generic potatoes.

[johnfh]

Charlotte which did very well and taste lovely boiled in a salad. Also a few Pink Fir Apple which didn't get the blight this year.  They were Ok but I prefrerred the Charolottes I think (all boiled).

[bluealf]

Charlottes - but again very poor, very large and not new tattie like.
International kidney - Very annoyed at these, tattie did not grow into a nice small kidney shape and ended up the size of a baker instead of lots of delicious new tatties 
Kestrals - lovely chippers and roasters and mash/boiled
Sharps - good early chipper, was quite surprised.
Desiree - Not impressed overall, a good size tattie but didnt chip or roast as well as expected, boiled fine though.

I dont know what we did wrong but for the second year the new tatties failed to produce the desired size and taste, wonder if the weather had an effect, lots of early rain and sun ?

The first year we had pounds and pounds of lovely small oval charlottes but not the last two years.

[mumofstig]

you have to pick them earlier if you want small spuds...............the longer you leave them in, the bigger they get. It's you that controls the size of the spud on the earlier ones 

[DD.]

I agree 101%. You can't blame the spud for that!

[bluealf]

Well they have to be in a certain length of time dont they ?

The foilage hadnt died back or anything, as I said the first year all fine and i havnt done anything different.

Well I shall try again and check earlier next season just incase 

[mumofstig]

start having a furtle to see what's there from 10 weeks.
By the time the foliage dies back the spuds will be the biggest they can be

[gillian62]

I had a lovely new potato early on from bag I got from supermarket - similar to the 'bag down the back of the vegetable rack' posting.

I then planted blue danube and sarpo mira.  Blue danube apart from having heavy scabbing which I know was down to watering issues, was very poor to cook - fell apart during cooking or burst through skins.

Sarpo Mira - I should have planted more - they were excellent.

[arugula]

Sarpo Mira - I should have planted more - they were excellent.

I know these are highly thought of by the Beechgrove Garden's Jim McColl. Its good to hear them rated here too. 

[sunshineband]

Sarpo Mira - I should have planted more - they were excellent.

I know these are highly thought of by the Beechgrove Garden's Jim McColl. Its good to hear them rated here too. 

I'm very pleased indeed as I have already ordered some for next season 

[kosh42|EFG]

Quick Q - one of my plot neighbours only grows Kestrel (a second early) and digs and keeps them. However she admitted that they only last the family a couple of months before they run out (they have yet to eat home grown at Christmas).

I really like the taste of Kestrel, so my questions is will a second early store for longer than this? Or should I stick to a proper main crop for storing into the following year?

Thanks,

Kosh