[whiskygalore]

This is the second year I have grown potatoes, they look and taste great.
However when they are boiled they breakup very quickly. Is this because of a soil problem? Any advise please

[richyrich7]

What variety ? some are more suitable to mashing than boiling.

[whiskygalore]

not sure of the variety, the potato explodes in water within 3 minutes of water boil. I planted a different variety than last year with the same result

[richyrich7]

Not sure myself why they should do this I've noticed mine sometimes split when I boil with the skins on  :?  This may help

[Sally A]

You do start your spuds off in cold water, rather than adding them to boiling don't you?

The waxier varieties make better boilers, and the floury ones for mash, but if your going to mash tham it doesn't matter if they split as long as they don't end up watery.

[Aunt Sally]

Some varieties mush up when boiled.  So I use a steamer  :idea:

[Annie]

Very gentle boiling or steaming helps.You may also find that the problem disappears after they`ve been stored a while.Strangley it`s not a problem I`ve had this year.Anyway it`s not you or the soil it just happens. :shock:  

[shaun]

try making chips with them.

[Aidy]

Now I am really confused, two WG's from scotland :shock:

[WG.]

Now I am really confused, two WG's from scotland :shock:

No relation Aidy - different surnames  

[GrannieAnnie]

I didn't get any problems with mushy potatoes this year, but I did last year, even with the red King Edward's.  Don't know why though, perhaps it is just the variety, but then RKE's shouldn't mush up should they?  Or perhaps its the overall growing conditions that season?  Perhaps the drier summer last year, but then this year has been wetter and you've still got the problem.  So I don't know........

[whiskygalore]

This is the second year I have grown potatoes, they look and taste great.
However when they are boiled they breakup very quickly. Is this because of a soil problem? Any advise please

Thanks all, It is a mystery, I have left the potatoes to harden off a little before I use them. I have even tried boiling them in their skins to avoid the soup that I am normally left with. The skins losen off after a couple of minutes boiling. They then seem to absorb the water and turn to mush. I have reds last year with the same problem. The ground is well fed and dug prior to planting. The crop is rotated I am wondering if the soil is lacking anything which is causing the pots to be this fragile.
All the other root veg are great, Carrots, Parsnip, Beetroot.

[Smudgeboy]

Have you tried cooking them any other way?

Courgettes apart, my only big success was my lovely crop of Desiree spuds dug up a coupla weeks back.

Put them anywhere near water and they mush up like nobody's biz, but slice them into wedges, pat 'em dry, coat in a little olive oil, salt and pepper and slap 'em on a baking tray (skin down) and into a hot oven for 45 mins and man-oh-man, the best wedge chips ever!

[whiskygalore]

Have you tried cooking them any other way?

Courgettes apart, my only big success was my lovely crop of Desiree spuds dug up a coupla weeks back.

Put them anywhere near water and they mush up like nobody's biz, but slice them into wedges, pat 'em dry, coat in a little olive oil, salt and pepper and slap 'em on a baking tray (skin down) and into a hot oven for 45 mins and man-oh-man, the best wedge chips ever!

Hey Smudgeboy, I agree with you recipe, however have you tried a self-seal plastic bag with flour, salt pepper and chilli powder, put the wedges in give a good shake and put them in your baking tray.

Remember " He who Dares Wins Rodney He who Dares Wins "

[Bigbadfrankie]

whish i had spuds :roll: