Charlotte Spuds

**sparrow100** · 07-01-2016, 03:31 PM

I still have 20L of them in the garage....Am contemplating making hooch, we're getting sick of 4-5 dinners out of 7 being potato-based!

**Snadger** · 07-01-2016, 05:15 PM

The Charlotte I spotted in Morrisons appeared to have been dug early, similar to Jersey Royals to get the best market price.

They seemed immature and wouldn't have grown, so i gave them a miss!

I only popped in for Elfe spuds anyway, but even though the website said they had them in store, they didn't have any!

**WendyC** · 07-01-2016, 05:33 PM

I've never had much luck with Charlotte. They grow well but are dry and DSL apart on cooking. I think I don't give them enough water at the crucial time.

**Bren In Pots** · 07-01-2016, 06:02 PM

I grew Charlottes in containers this year instead of my usual arran pilot have to say they tasted much nicer so I'll be growing them in future.

**Deano's "Diggin It"** · 07-01-2016, 08:37 PM

Wait a minute! Am I missing something here! If I grab a bag of "Charlotte" From the local Supermarket! They are just as good as certified seed potatoes?

**Jungle Jane** · 07-01-2016, 09:41 PM

Supermarket potatoes worry me,they're in the high risk group of veg containing pesticide residues. They're treated with chemical growth inhibitors in storage to stop them sprouting too. Sometimes the amount of pesticides found in a shop potato,exceed the legal amount,that shouldn't ever happen?

**Spunky** · 07-01-2016, 09:47 PM

Originally posted by Snadger View Post

The Charlotte I spotted in Morrisons appeared to have been dug early, similar to Jersey Royals to get the best market price.

They seemed immature and wouldn't have grown, so i gave them a miss!

I only popped in for Elfe spuds anyway, but even though the website said they had them in store, they didn't have any!

i got some charlottes snadger they were organic I think about 1.50 a bag ish from morrisons and there chitting already, i think it's the fastest I think I've Seen a potatoe develop chits!

**Potstubsdustbins** · 07-01-2016, 09:56 PM

#7 Not all are treated that why I chit them to prove they are viable.

**Alison** · 07-01-2016, 10:05 PM

I grew Charlottes the first year I had a plot and got an amazing crop in terms of volume but they didn't really have any flavour. I think that what is best for you to grow is partially dependant on what you like but your conditions have a massive effect. Different soil, nutrients, water and climate can make the same spud taste totally different so I always think you have to experiment yourself. These conditions make more difference to the taste of things like spuds than they do on something like beans.

**Jungle Jane** · 07-01-2016, 10:07 PM

I was reading this the other day.

The European Parliament voted in 2009 to tighten rules on pesticide use and ban at least 22 chemicals deemed harmful to human health.
The move banned substances that could cause cancer or harm human reproduction or hormones.
At the time, the UK government, the Conservatives and the NFU all opposed the new rules, saying they could hit yields and increase food prices.
The report said that as current licences lapsed and tighter rules meant they would not be re-approved, some 40 chemicals would be banned within the next decade.

EU pesticide bans 'could hit UK crops' - BBC News

A decades a long time to ban something that's deemed harmful. If I was selling something & then suddenly it was deemed harmful,they'd make me stop selling it straight away.

**Penellype** · 08-01-2016, 08:44 AM

Originally posted by Alison View Post

I grew Charlottes the first year I had a plot and got an amazing crop in terms of volume but they didn't really have any flavour. I think that what is best for you to grow is partially dependant on what you like but your conditions have a massive effect. Different soil, nutrients, water and climate can make the same spud taste totally different so I always think you have to experiment yourself. These conditions make more difference to the taste of things like spuds than they do on something like beans.

I think it is very true that the conditions have a huge impact on the taste. I remember my first attempt at Sungold tomatoes, when I tried to grow them on the windowsill indoors in a small pot which was often standing in water. Shirleys cope with this treatment reasonably well, Sungold produced fruit which was 2 inches across, pale yellow and tasteless. I had already taken some shideshoot cuttings, and was so unimpressed with the results indoors that I planted them out in a small space in the garden and left them to it. The small, sweet orange fruit produced by these clones of the indoor plant converted me to Sungold instantly and it is now my favourite variety. They could not have been more different.

**21up** · 08-01-2016, 07:14 PM

Originally posted by Deano's "Diggin It" View Post

Wait a minute! Am I missing something here! If I grab a bag of "Charlotte" From the local Supermarket! They are just as good as certified seed potatoes?

Hi Deano i grew supermarket spuds last year and the yeild was more than double the seed potatoes planted side by side in plot last year.
Will grow them again this year in fact going this weekend
charlotte and mirrabel

**21up** · 08-01-2016, 07:19 PM

Originally posted by Jungle Jane View Post

Supermarket potatoes worry me,they're in the high risk group of veg containing pesticide residues. They're treated with chemical growth inhibitors in storage to stop them sprouting too. Sometimes the amount of pesticides found in a shop potato,exceed the legal amount,that shouldn't ever happen?

Hi JJ to say they do not sprout we throw away lots of spuds from supermarket that have sprouted after only a week or so.
if we need them urgent as such we take off the sprouts and even then they can be a dozen or more on each spud after only a week once one goes it must tell the others
Get your sprouts on its time to go in garden

**Jungle Jane** · 08-01-2016, 07:33 PM

Sorry I didn't explain that very well. Sprayed with growth inhibitors to slow down growth so they don't sprout on the shelves. I've had many shop bought potatoes that have sprouted because they're old.

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Charlotte Spuds

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