[stompy]

Has anyone tried any of the blight resistant potatos the main crop varieties like Sarpo Mira.

If so what was the flavour/texture like?
Im thinking of growing a large bed of potatoes for store but don't want to end up with tasteless spuds!

Thanks
Andy

[DD.]

I always grow them a) - for their blight resistance, b) their slug resistance. (They have very tough skins).

They are not the greatest taste in the world, but they are my heaviest cropper and least damaged. If used in dishes where you are adding taste, it's not a problem.

You'll need good teeth if you bake them, as the skins are seriously thick and crunchy!

[stompy]

I thought there would be some sort of trade off with them.
So long as they mash/bake/wedge we'll be happy, we usually bake/mash or wedge potatoes so they all get added flavour.

My tomatos suffered badly last year with blight so im assuming the potatos will too.

I think i'll get some Sarpo's this year in that case "if i can"

Thanks D.D.  

[mr- potatohead]

I grew Sarpo Mira last year, amazing yield of very good sized spuds, we had blight but these were untouched, no good for roasters, kind of dry, but fine for mash etc. Also agree with DD about the slug resistance, Good Luck. 

[TheSpartacat]

Have you tried any of the other potatoes that have some natural blight resistance? (but less than the Sarpo ones)
http://www.jbaseedpotatoes.co.uk/buy-seed-potatoes/blight-resistant-seed-potatoes

I've grown some of these and managed to dodge the dreaded blight... Also Kerr Pink seemed to resist it as a maincrop.
My tomatoes always seem to get hit before the potatoes, and i've noticed the same around the site i'm on- it's usually a good warning to start spraying the spuds

[shokkyy]

I tried Sarpo Axona a couple of years ago and hated them. Yes, they're tough, but they seemed to disintegrate on boiling and the skin was horrible. Everybody has their personal taste, but they weren't for me.

[TheSpartacat]

Hmm, i guess it depends why you're growing potatoes- for flavour or economy.
I grow spuds because homegrown taste nicer than the ones in the shop and on that count Sarpo don't appeal from what people are saying.
If things go completely pear-shaped on the blight front, at least they're not so expensive to buy in the shop. I'd rather have a 'chance' of getting tastier spuds because you can 'add flavour' to supermarket ones, and heaven knows my growing space never seems big enough

[Aunt Sally]

Cara is a blight resistant variety.  Late maturing, very large tubers great for jacket spuds, good flavour.

[sunshineband]

Cara is a blight resistant variety.  Late maturing, very large tubers great for jacket spuds, good flavour.

Last year even our Caras were blighted badly 

I am trying some of the Sarpos this year, and crossed fingers too 

[stompy]

Ahh, i can get Cara.
I'll order a couple of kilo of them too.

Thanks guys 

[DD.]

If you can get them, try one of my favourites, Ambo.

They are just as blight resistant and are a Cara/Desiree cross. With such a parentage you can hardly go wrong.

Just bear in mind they are not as blight resistant as the Sarpo strains though.