[arugula]

Based on your growing results and combining the factors of flavour, yield and disease resistance, what in your opinion is the best second early potato to grow - choose up to 3 varieties and help everyone choose what to grow next year.

[DD.]

As I've said to Argyllie in a PM, (we've colluded on this), this will be a guide, what works for one is not guaranteed to work in someone else's soil.

Bear in mind that one person may have hit on the best spud in the world. That spud will still only get one vote.

[arugula]

Any comments regarding growing experiences are useful.

[solway cropper]

This year I grew Charlotte and Kestrel, both in large tubs and in the ground. Both are excellent croppers but the Charlotte wins for flavour whereas the kestrel produced the biggest tubers. I got some good bakers from the Kestrel although they were a bit scabbed which I put down to the exceptionally dry weather we had in spring. Some commercial growers round here swear by Wilja which seem to do well in our micro-climate so I'll give them a try next year.

[TheSpartacat]

My picks are Maris Peer- absolutely delish and great yield!! They are also storing rather well for me! Some really good sized spuds, and very versatile.

Ulster Sovereign- My first time to grow these and love them! Brilliant yield, didn't get hit with any critters/slugs/scab.... and I grew them next to my Lord Rosebery's which came up looking a little nibbled and scaly looking. Good flavour- somewhere between floury and waxy, which i like- versatile spud!! Nice baked, mashed, boiled, steamed... i'm getting through them fast.

And my third pick, and possibly favourite, is Gladstone. I will definitely grow them next year. Lovely even shaped, nicely sized potatoes, perfect skins- no damage at all... much greater yield even than the Maris Peer and the flavour is lovely!!

[veggieman]

Living in Shetland, the Shetland Black variety is regarded as being a maincrop variety in these parts.
I have grown them each year and the skins tend to come away when boiled but they are a tasty variety with a "floury" taste.

[arugula]

Did you vote for them then veggieman? Where I needed extra help or advice, I took my information from the British Potato Variety Database or if not listed there from seed potato supplier websites. A fun way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon.

[digalotty]

and a very well done to you for setting it up         great thread

[veggieman]

Shetland Blacks now have a vote !

[arugula]

Thanks digalotty and well done veggieman!

[bluealf]

Kestrel for me.

 

[Mosslane]

We grew Vivaldi and loved their taste. They grew well in our sandy soil and I'm only sorry we didn't have more instead of our earlies.

[Muddylou]

Kestrel for me to, though I agree they have a tendency to scab (well on my allotment they do). Great roasters though.

[rowlandwells]

my second early variety is majestic a good allround spud suits most soils including my lottie although we find that red Tate's do best on our ground Desiree very good cropper i did omit to use fertilizer this year and din't achieve the best results as usual silly me

when i worked on the farm some 40years ago we would grow a variety called record  a again a good cropper must give it a go some time perhaps next year

[Redgoat]

Anya did well for me.