[Grubbypaws]

I am going to start growing potatoes in containers; I have never grown pototoes before so am completely ignorant.

I want a potato that I can pick, boil and add to my salad or have as a side with a touch of butter.

I love jersey new potatoes. Can anyone advise me what seed potatoes I should buy.

Thank you

[JayG]

Jersey potatoes are actually "International Kidney" potatoes grown in Jersey, and never seem to taste anything like as good grown elsewhere.

Charlotte, Lady Christl, Pentland Javelin are all highly regarded early potatoes which are great when harvested young as salad potatoes.

Have a look in the "Potato and tomato popularity polls" in this forum for further options and views (Charlotte is technically a second early by the way.)  


Edit: Forgot to mention that you are likely to be restricted in your choice by availability as it's quite late in the potato seed-buying season (if not the actual planting season) now.

[BabbyAnn]

last week I visited JBA website and was able to pick up some varieties but as JayG said, stocks are very limited and some of the potatoes arrived with shoots (though the spuds are all perfectly fine for planting)

[Yorkie]

Try your local lotty shop first, they may still have some left - and Charlotte is a popular standard variety

[Grubbypaws]

After reading  all the comments on the potato poll I have plumped for Lady Christl which I found in the garden centre. It was the last packet!

My husband has decided to take on the potatoes; it is great to see him getting interested in my edible garden.

[arugula]

That's a great choice!

[digalotty]

remember to feed them regular and you should get some decent spuds

[Grubbypaws]

What should I feed them and when?

Do I still need to feed them if I plant them in good  compost/well rotted manure?

[Yorkie]

@clareblues

You're growing in containers, I think you said?  Peat-based compost only has enough nutrients for a few weeks, manure doesn't have a lot of guaranteed nutrients.  I would add a general purpose fertiliser or chicken pellets to the compost when planting or earthing up, to assist. 

But the most important thing for you will be the watering.  Without that, your crop won't be any good anyway.  The spuds need lots of water to help them swell up.

[Grubbypaws]

Thank you Yorkie,

The husband planted them yesterday while I was at work. Nice to see him so excited about growing things but gosh he is a messy gardener!

The spuds will be fine but I am going to have to disown that corner of my garden!