Kitchen Garden Forum

Clive. Seem to recall many many moons ago buying Earlie's from a farm shop, were the old boy serving [he was in his 90's] told me that his farm and the adjoining one only bought seed potato's every other year, and swapped with each other.

Hello Shallotman,
Yes, it is certainly only more recently that we have always fully bought in new seed.

This morning though Dads plan to return to "once grown" has been stalled as Mum, in Sunday lunch preparation, has found some unknown brown spotting in the Ambo...so the once grown selection has gone back in the eater bag...
..and Dad is now onto "plan C" which is buy another bag of Valor...as they did well last year..

Meanwhile, the weather today is up on forecast..and despite the recent rain our garden is dig-able...so I'm pleased to report some more ground turned over nice and deep and even..

Clive.

GerryFeery, not sure after some research why you would want to grow this variety as it is labelled one of the worst tasting potatoes ever.
http://www.thedailyspud.com/2009/01/25/ ... er-or-two/ and http://www.victoryseeds.com/news/irish_famine.html

This chap near London http://spadework.typepad.com/spade_work ... otato.html seems to have found a source according to his blog as he has grown them.

Hope it helps.

Peter, thanks for reply. just heard that Lumper was the common variety in Ireland before the famine and wanted to try them out of curiosity more than anything.

Just had an email from Alan Romans, they are on their way.

OH has said "no" to potatoes this year as they take up too much space...... that's what he thinks

Dear Donedigging, you mustn't be without having your earlies, at least.

Morning donedigging

I'm with Herby on this.

The best advice for home gardeners is "Grow what you like eating and/or can't buy in the shops".

Good potatoes are easy to buy, freshly dug earlies are impossible to get.

Like so many I decided to go for only first and second earlies, until I got to the Garden Centre when I succumbed to buying Roosters because they are so gorgeous. My absolute favourite is Fambo but I can't find that as seed. Might be tempted to grow it from this year's potatoes.

Just like I said I would only grow 5 types of tomato and I already have more than 30 and it isn't even February!

I'm only growing enough runner beans for me as OH hates them and I won't grow any sweetcorn as it hasn't matured for the past 3 years. Oh yes. Seeds already bought.

As we know, future behaviour is based on past behaviour.

Morning Tigger, i haven't heard of Fambo before, is it a good all-rounder or just nice cooked one particular way?

Or does it just happen to be J.M's favourite.

It's grown locally and our farm shop sells them. It's a big potato, maincrop and it's like Rooster in that you can use it for anything, but it makes the best mash in the world!

As for JM, the last time I had the pleasure of his company we didn't agree about the mash. He uses butter and lots of cream to make a really runny mash. I prefer butter and an egg. I failed to persuade him that mine was better, but I still think I'm right!

Dear Tigger, thank-you for the information regarding the Fambo potato, i will keep my eyes open for them in the future.

And i agree with you about how to do mash.

Tigger - Alan Romans sells Fambo http://www.alanromans.com/p-2051-fambo.aspx

The problem with tomatoes is that we buy the varieties we fancy and then magazines all seem to give them away too increasing the number of varieties and causing decision problems. Wish they would give something less common a try. Another favourite on magazines is chilli and I'm steering clear of growing those.

Dear Glallotments, thanks for that, the name didn't spring to mind, athough i ordered from Alan Romans.

I'm ordering them!

We're on tract OH.