"Baz" wrote ...

"Bob Hobden" wrote in


Now everyone is eating their early potatoes how are they?
What do you think of the varieties you grew for growth and taste?

We grew Inova and Printaline this year and must say we are rather
impressed, probably the best early potatoes we have ever grown for
yield, tuber quality/shape and flavour and that says a lot as we try
different varieties every year. When the potatoes were still small we
were getting over 3lb from each plant and the last Inova we dug up we
got over 5lbs although they are beginning to get large, still taste
nice though. The Printalines seem to have stayed smaller, more like
new potato size.

So please let us know how your varieties have done?


Bob,
We will give Inova and Printaline a go next year from your recommendation,
as we always get a few new to try.(I say always, this is our 4th year).

Favourites are

My dad always grew Arran Pilot and have found then so sweet and early so
have done them since I had my own garden, always will.
Another good one I have done again this year is Pentland Javelin which are
prolific with the yield and so sweet tasting early on. You could leave
these in the ground and have them for mashing, chipping and roasting.

I grew some samples of Swift and Premiere this year and am not impressed
at
all.

I can't see any new(first early) potato beating Arran Pilot for taste but
will keep on trying, and next year with your recommendation will give
those
you mention a go.


Isn't Arran Pilot a bit floury? Floury potatoes are no good here as it's a
dry spot anyway so even potatoes said to be waxy end up floury and floury
potatoes end up as just mash in the pan.
The two we grew were not what we wanted but were the suggestion of the
expert at the Hampshire Potato Day when we asked about the two we wanted,
Florette and Cherie (reserve Amandine). He said they were the nearest
alternative but had Florette and Cherie back at Charlton Park GC (who run
the potato day) but hadn't yet got DEFRA approval to sell them because the
French grower sent them late. After travelling to Hampshire, a journey in
the other direction to Wantage, Oxfordshire just for a few seed potatoes
wasn't on.
Our problem now is do we try Florette and Cherie next season or stick with
Inova and Printaline.
--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK