1) Planted 23rd March in 4x6ft plastic greenhouse (roof almost non-existant due to deteriation of plastic). Soil is very improved clay (years of Oak leaf mold) and duck compost, topped up with a nine inch layer of 2 year old horse compost, which the ducks had cleared of slugs etc before planting (see avatar). Seed potatoes had chitted (a bit too long) and planted in three rows of 6, with the 2 extras bunged in between the two rows at one end.
2) Fotunately no frost after this date to worry about or I would have use straw to cover them up. The door was kept shut until the end of April, Temperatures never got too high due to open roof, but was higher than being unprotected. During May the door was open most of the time and fencing put infront to stop the ducks charging in!
3) During June gave them a GOOD soaking twice when the top of the compost was looking rather dry. Keeping an eye on the flowers to decide when to check them. 17th June all the plants had flowers on and a quite a few had set fruits (they were doing better than my tomatoes!) So I dug up one plant. There were 3 tiny potatoes (thumbnail size) and 3 golf ball size, based on those I decided not to dig up the rest, but the 3 'golf balls' tasted OK.
4)2nd July, Lifted another plant and found 4 potatoes of reasonable size, so decided to lift the lot.
Most of the potatoes were of a good size, duck egg through to fist size and the total harvest was 4.5kg (10 lb)
The 20 original tubers weighed 0.9kg, so a five fold increase. I think this a reasonable harvest for a new potato
However I am not overly impressed by the flavour...and they have a lot of shallow 'pimples' which I think someone refered to as 'blackheads' on the old forum, which I am now going to search to see if I can find the thread.
Having typed up these notes I realise that I had not fertilised these other than any nutrients left in the horse and duck muck, and I forgot to do a chemical test before planting. However plants seemed health enough, possibly a bit leggy.
Has anyone else grown this variety and what was your outcome? Any tips for future growing?
