FIRST EARLIES OR MAIN CROP

[Compo]

I have just put some first earlies in 'International Kidney' and the label on the bag says main crop..(it could be an error?)..are there two types or are the IK spuds able to be main crop and first early dependant on planting time and then later, harvest time?

CoMpO

[Johnboy]

Hi Compo,
Suspect an error. Have only ever known IK as an early.
JB.

[jethrotattydrill]

Agree with JB -no doubt they are an early

[oldherbaceous]

Not trying to be awkward at all but, i think they are actually an early maincrop, that can be dug as an early when they have a good waxy texture, as a second early while being larger they are still fairly waxy, and as an early maincrop where they seem to start getting a more floury texture.

[Compo]

Thanks everyone, you have confirmed what I was thinking, incidentally I have put six in the ground under cover, the other's are not hardly chitting at all compared to my sarpo mira and kestrel.........any ideas. OH.............yes I have heard that before about the IK they are not bred as first earlies but work well as one....

CoMpO

[Johnboy]

Hi OH,
This could be said of most 'earlies'. Take Maris Bard: if this is left it will produce some wonderful results and have, to me, better qualities than Maris Piper. But you could not get the same results by growing Maris Piper as an early. I you get my drift.
JB.

[oldherbaceous]

Morning Johnboy, i could be wrong, it has been known.

I read my statement, in one of my good old gardening books, but blowed if i can find which one.

[Colin Miles]

On the Alan Romans site International Kidney is listed under First Early and Early Main and I am sure he will not mind me quoting in full from the Early Main - as below.

This was bred by Robert Fenn of Sulhamstead, Berkshire. This is the classic old Victorian maincrop variety sold early season by Jersey growers under the trade mark “Jersey Royal”, using their particular selection. If picked prematurely, it is a small, firm, waxy, mild potato. When left to mature naturally, it is a large kidney and is floury enough to disintegrate slightly when boiled. Seed catalogues receive complaints about “phoney Jersey Royals” every summer. I prefer the floury mature product but would make more money promoting it simplistically as an early.

[Compo]

I think also we are misled a little bit by that lovely golden Jersey Royal that appears in the supermarket in a few weeks, from what I recall the Jersey soils are quite reddish and wonder if that would help the colour of the potato, which on my more brown light clay, the potato skin appears a little whiter than the Jersey version. This would possibly (I would imagine) apply to lots of vegetable varieties, the soil type and climate would mean that the same two potatoes from the same batch would be different in different soils and locations ??

OH If I send you a spud perhaps we could have an allotment fry up and compare chips and new tatties over a guinness or something? If only Somerset we nearer to Milton Bryan, but on google street I can be there in a minute!!

CoMpO

[oldherbaceous]

Morning CoMpO, i'll have a cup of tea with mine.

[Parsons Jack]

I bought mine from D.T.Brown. In the catalogue they are listed as a '2nd early', in the description they are a 'classic early' and also a 'maincrop'.
Suppose they're covering all bases really

[Suzie]

I am very envious of you all growing spuds, I have to give it a miss this year - I guess I could have planted into bags, but to be honest I have so much to get from Benson to Henlow as it is that I have decided they are to be missing from my plan this year

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Suzie, if you wanted you could buy a bag of seed potatoes now, keep them cool and then plant them in May.

[Suzie]

Really? Oh that sounds good - I assumed May would be too late. I could whack them into the ground that I will be uncleared which will help with the clearing

Do you suppose I could still find seed potatoes for sale?

[oldherbaceous]

I would have thought there would still be every chance of finding some Suzie.