[fatbelly]

On the recommendation of DD and others on this site, this season I grew Kestrel Potatoes.

I lifted the first plant today (they have been in the ground for 17 weeks) and the crop I got off the one plant is superb. Not a mark on them and not touched by slugs or any other nasties, on one spud there was small amount of scab but I am not bothered about that given I will be peeling them.

One question, how long should they be in the ground for is 17 weeks to early or about right

I only hope the rest are as good.

[mumofstig]

You can lift them as you want them, or leave them until they die back..for biggest yield.
It is entirely up to you.........all I can say is.....mine have all been eaten

[New shoot]

Kestral are great. I gew some this year in a really rough piece of my plot - reclaimed from the overgrown bank next to my plot last year.  The soil is shocking despite digging in a whole heap of compost and I've just dug up my crop of lurvely spuds    And they've broken the soil down beautifully     

[PennyS]

One for next year then - I nearly got them for this year and now am determined to try some!

[fatbelly]

Lifted another kestrel plant today and again the harvest was first class. About 6 or 7 good size spuds that had no marks or blemish's on them and had not been touched by Slugs or anything else.

I have another 20 plants to lift but on the showing so far Kestrels will be at the top of my Spud buying list come next February.

[sunshineband]

I have converted my DD to growing kestrel too as the flavour is great as well as a high yield  She ws sceptical...no more!!!

[shokkyy]

I see on the databse they say the blackleg resistance is very good on Kestrel too. I'm going to be shopping for blackleg resistance next year as I've been hit hard by it this year and I can't do rotation because I only have one bit of ground I can use for spuds. Has anyone had blackleg problems with them or do you agree with the databse on that?

[JohnB47]

Grew a few Kestrel this year - no growing problems at all and a very nice taste. I had blackleg on two lady christl but not on Kestrel.

The only thing is they seem to break up a bit when cooking - you have to really keep your eye on them. Over cook them a bit and they go to mush. Anyone else find that?

[WirralWally]

. . . . . .  there was small amount of scab but I am not bothered about that given I will be peeling them.

Fatbelly, do you really peel them?
I'd have thought that with your second earlies you'd have been able to just wash them.
Any scab should just rub off with a light scouring or with gentle pressure from your thumb nail.

Don't waste good potato by peeling when there shouldn't be anything to peel.