Last year I took advantage of the KG offer and bought 5 microplants from Alan Romans - Mr Little's Yetholm Gypsy, Salad Blue, Aura, Witchhill and Highland Burgundy Red. Unfortunately Yetholm Gyspy didn't survive. Of the rest, Highland Burgundy Red only produced about 1/2lb of potatoes but the other 3 did very well, despite not being very well looked after. Aura managed nearly 3lb of mainly small potatoes, Witchhill about 2lb and Salad Blue about 2.5lb.
For various reasons the only one we really managed to sample was Salad Blue. My wife mistook them for beetroot and roasted them - they were delicious!
Anyway I saved some tubers from each and this year I planted them together with Lady Christl, Charlotte and King Edwards. Actually, I nearly didn't plant Aura as they refused to chit and I thought they were dead. But in the end, rather than throw them away I planted them as per the others - in 13.5 litre pots and they all eventually grew.
Blight reduced all the yields though Lady Christl was mainly lifted by then. Highland Burgundy Red was again very growing and 2 tubers only produced about 1/2lb. Searching online it seems that it normally would only produced about 1.25lb per tuber. The other three did quite well compared with Charlotte and King Edward.
Those of you who have read Alan Romans will be aware that he bemoans the lack of flavour in many modern varieties. I now understand what he means. Lady Christl I thought virtually tasteless, the heritage varieties delicious. Even compared with Charlotte, which is one of our favourites I would rate Salad Blue, Highland Burgundy Red and Witchhill better, Aura not quite so good. So I am certainly going to grow Salad Blue and Witchhill next year and I see from Alan Romans emails that Salad Blue may be available as tubers next year. It certainly looks very pretty on the plate as well as tasting very good!
Heritage Potatoes
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter, Chief Spud
-
oldherbaceous
- KG Regular
- Posts: 14435
- Joined: Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:52 pm
- Location: Beautiful Bedfordshire
- Has thanked: 712 times
- Been thanked: 710 times
Dear Colin, i must say that made for interesting reading.
In general do you think the micro plants were worth the money they cost, as i have thought about trying some myself.
In general do you think the micro plants were worth the money they cost, as i have thought about trying some myself.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.