Spuds

It’s time to think about growing a few spuds.

I was chatting to Klaus Laitenberger from Green VegetableSeeds this week about planting times for the varieties he stocks in his shop. Klaus tells us there are some amazing and unique varieties available and his tubers listed here are certified disease free, which will save any shortages this year.

Planting definitions of potatoes

First earlies: Plant in tunnel in February and harvest in late May/June. Plant outdoors in mid-March and harvest July. Spacing: 20cm in drill (drills widely spaced so you can earth up)

Second earlies: Plant outdoors in late March/mid April and harvest late July to September. Spacing: 30cm in drill (drills widely spaced so you can earth up)

Maincrop: Plant outdoors in mid-April and harvest late September to October. Spacing: 30cm in drill (drills widely spaced so you can earth up)

There are usually about 10-12 seed potatoes in a kilo.

Different types of potatoes

International Kidney – also known as Jersey Royal (First Early)

Jersey Royal certainly sounds a lot better than International Kidney, but only potato growers from Jersey can call them with the real name.  This potato originated in Jersey around 1880.  The EU protects this variety and it was given protection of designation of origin (PDO), just like champagne that can only come from the Champagne region.

You can grow them like any early potato and plant the seed potatoes around mid-March.  Potatoes can be harvested from June onwards.  If left in the ground a bit longer they can be used as maincrop potatoes, for roasting, chips or wedges.

Red Duke of York (First Earlies)

One of the few red-skinned first early varieties.  They grow easily and produce a high yield of delicious large tuber suitable for baking and chips. 

Red Duke of York potatoes can be planted from mid-March/early April and harvest starts in July.

Homeguard (First Earlies)

A first early potato. It has an excellent flavour and good scab resistance.  Blight resistance is low but is usually harvested before blight arrives.  A great all-rounder suitable for steaming, boiling, baking, mashing, roasting and frying.

Homeguard potatoes can be planted from mid-March/early April and harvest starts in July. 

Charlotte (second early)

Charlotte is a second early waxy potato which are excellent for boiling without falling apart.  The flesh is creamy yellow. They taste delicious hot or cold in a potato salad.  They also make delicious roast potatoes.  Charlotte grows on all soils and has good overall disease resistance. Blight resistance is average but good resistance to slugs and scab.

Charlotte potatoes can be planted in late March/early April and harvest starts in late July.

Wilja (second early)

Wilja is well known for its taste.  It has the old-fashioned real potato flavour.    It’s a dry potato excellent for boiling, roasting and chips.  The potatoes are less prone to disintegrating if boiled too long.  It also has good resistance to scab and slugs. 

Wilja potatoes can be planted in late March/early April and harvest starts in late July.

Arran Victory (maincrop)

A heritage variety from 1918 bred on the Arran Island on the West Coast of Scotland.  The tubers have deep purple skins and pure white flesh.  It’s delicious steamed, roasted or mashed, but falls apart when boiled.  

Arran Victory potatoes can be planted in mid-April and harvest starts in September/October.

Salad Blue (maincrop)

First grown around 1900. Both the skin and the flesh have a deep blue/purple colour that remains even after boiling.  You can have blue chips, blue potato salad or even a blue mash. The name Salad Blue may be a bit misleading as its best use is for mashed potatoes and not for salad unless you like a stodgy potato salad.  

Salad Blue potatoes can be planted in mid-April and harvest starts in September/October.

Sarpo Mira (maincrop)

You’ll be guaranteed a massive yield of potatoes and the one that blight will not touch.  There have been many years where all other varieties collapsed with blight and this one stood proud with not a sign of the dreaded disease.  Sarpo Mira has very large, irregular shaped pink tubers.  The growth is very strong and the foliage quickly covers the soil thus reducing the need for weed control. 

Sarpo Mira potatoes can be planted in mid-April and harvest starts in September/October.

Golden Wonder (maincrop)

A gourmet potato with many followers.  It has a chestnut creamy brown russet skin and is one of the most floury potatoes and has a lot of fans in Ireland.  The flavour is excellent.  It’s suitable for 

boiling, steaming and roasting.

Golden Wonder potatoes can be planted in mid-April and harvest starts in September/October.

Pink Fir Apple (maincrop)

Also known as a fingerling potato due to the long and narrow, knobbly tubers.  The skin is pink and the flesh is white.  The flavour is outstanding, a nutty, earthy buttery taste.  In fact it tastes like an already buttered potato.  It’s ideal for boiling and makes a delicious potato salad.

All this talk of spuds is making me hungry. I’m going to pop a few in the oven.