Kitchen Garden Forum

I have been going through the seed catalogues . I was thinking of potatoes, one early and one main crop.

I have chosen the varieties, but can anyone give me a rough clue as to how many seed potaoes are in a 1.5 kg bag please

The varieties , if this is of any help are:
Early, international kidney
Main crop, vales sovereign

Many thanks

Dear Donedigging, it should be between 15 to 20, but this can vary depending on the size of the seed potatoes.

Thank you OH,
I was just wondering how many bags I needed for the space I am giving them.

Technically International Kidney are not an early but a maincrop which is harvested early (as in Jersey Royals which are a strain of I.K.). Personally I've found them a disappointment in my soil and would always opt for Lady Christl as a true first early with a fantastic flavour.

The reason I am trying I.K is that I work with Jersey royals and think £3 for a 500gram bag at the beginning of the season is unbelievably over priced
So just thought I'd give them ago, just to compare.

Morning dd

As solway cropper says, IK are a actually maincrop, so the seed, I have always found, tend to be rather large, so you don't get many for your money. Whatever it is like as an immature early, I found it is bland and coarse when large.

Rather than ordering from catalogues, I would go to a good garden centre as soon as the seed potatoes come in and actually count the contents of the bags, or, better still, buy loose (not always an option, I know).

Good morning DD,

I too tried IK a couple of years ago and was very disappointed with them. They ain't nothing like the Jersey Royals that you are used to.

I grew Rocket as an early last year. I was cropping them after 8 weeks under fleece

I've grown Rocket for a number of years for its reliable speed - May potatoes are a real bonus. The last two years I have also grown Vales Emerald and it is nearly as early, better flavour and, crucially this year, more slug resistant.
If you are only growing two types I would grow second early Charlotte as the other one; high yielding, brilliant flavour and keep beyond Christmas.

I don't rate Rocket one bit for its eating qualities. Nor does anyone else I know who's grown it — it seems to be pumped with water, which is what makes it crop so early I guess. Foremost is the one for me, for a first early.
Regarding seed potatoes, they are harvested when slightly immature so your IK seed may not be too big. Certainly I don't remember them being oversized when I have planted this variety in the past. If you do find oversized tubers amongst your seed, you can always cut them in half. I won't grow IK again, though: rather disappointing. With potatoes, it's all about site and soil. For a quality potato for the kitchen, Belle de Fontenay is superb, or Charlotte. For me anyway. I don't understand why some of these varieties are so expensive in the shops when they are no more or less difficult to grow nor particularly lower yielding than ware potatoes. All the more reason to be growing our own. It just needs Whittingstall to go championing a particular variety (and he soon will, you'll see) for the price of it to go sky-high. Shops charge more because they can, and if it's on the telly it must be good, mustn't it?

I'll stick to Maris Bard for flavour. I have tried many varieties but none have compared with Maris Bard for the flavour and I always go back to them.
They also will mature if left, to some really worthwhile spuds.
I only grow earlies as I have contacts for potatoes for the main crop which come free to me.
I left to mature they are every bit as good as Maris Piper which is renown to be the best all rounder and the spud that the fish and chip fryers are after.
JB.

First early Arran Pilot works for me on my plot.From 3kgs planted out this year,the return was over 25kgs.Also planted 6kgs of Wilja and had a return of about 70kgs.Both varieties were of a good size and flavour.

We grow Lady christl too, its a lovely flavour, and if left to mature keeps very well and makes good mash. We've grown it for years and will continue to do so.

Dear Donedigging, i hope you don't mind us turning this into a favourite potato list.

Just incase you do, i'm getting my favourites in quick.

Early.. Lady Christl.

Second.. Charlotte and Kestrel.

Late.. Picasso.

They all have done me proud.

Dear OH,
I don't mind at all, it is quiet interesting to read all your views and just goes to show how we all differ in taste.

P.S I was wondering if you were going to add to the list OH