Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi Lizzie,
Why can't you do it with F1 varieties? If you were to produce from the seeds what you have said may well be true but a Potato tuba is unaffected by pollen so in my book you will get a clone of the Mother Spud which is exactly what you are after.

I never thought of it that way round. I was thinking of F1 seeds and not tubers. It's worth a bash so I might as well have a go. If it doesn't work then i've only lost a few spuds. If it does work then i'll be able to double up on the tatties.

Once again, good thinking Batman. What would I do without you?

I've planted 2 Rockets in half full 25 litre tubs beside the Aga today so I'll see if I can eat in April seeing as there are quite a few mentions of 90 days.
I've never tried the much discussed Christmas earlies but if these tubs I've made work I shall be trying. How do you do it? When do you save the seed tubers? Where do you store them? Fridge? Do you give them some light before you plant them? When do you plant them?

Geoff - we are going to be bolder at your suggestion and will now put our potatoes in the greenhouse weeks earlier than last year. Thanks.

Pigletwillie & Gardening Girl - we are exactly the same re the choices. As taster packs don't seem to be available for Rocket or Swift and we can't cope with 3kg of each, now have to make a decision. Risk Swift on the basis we have never grown it before? Or continue with Rocket which we know and love? Mind you, Foremost is our favourite above all, so we may just risk Swift and leave Rocket this year. But then again....??

Ian - from experience I would heartily recommend Picasso. It is not described as a mashing potato because it is waxier I suppose, but it does makes great mash. In fact, it makes wonderful chips and being large, is wonderful for baking too. Further, it was largely unaffected by blight. The leaves were affected, but the potatoes were just fine. It also had less slug damage than any of our other potatoes we grew last year. Can't comment on how that compares with the Sarpo series though, as we have not grown any of them.

And I am now thinking more seriously about Lady Christl and British Queen. Will it never end???

Having said all that, a very useful site for establishing the varieties that may be more suited to your needs is - http://www.britishpotatoes.co.uk/variety.asp. Click on the variety chart to see how they all compare - quantifies flouriness/waxiness of each variety too.

I think we will now hold off on our final potato decisions, until after the Potato Day at Ryton Organic.

Forgot to say Geoff, Pigletwillie posted under 'Seasonal Tips' to say put tubers in the fridge until September, then plant them in pots (or in grow bags, if you read my tip there).

After failing miserably with our attempts at outdoor Christmas 'earlies' this year, we are going to try just that with our own harvested varieties. I don't know what others think, but I wouldn't worry much about chitting them. Or you could try some chitted and some not to see if it makes a difference to yours? Most reports seem to suggest there is little advantage, but we still do it for all bar the Christmas ones. And do you know, I have no idea why.... just don't want to change from the conditions that have worked in the past, I suppose. Makes it no more than superstition really.

I think this is a must Chez,

they apparently have over 100 types to try and buy. We are going on the Sunday morning early doors and may pick up a couple of varieties to try in my barrels, as the bulk of our varieties are bought and chitting in the workshop.

How can something as simple as picking a tattie, leave you staring at the ceiling at night, just wondering?

Oh dear, I think I need to get out more!

Piglet