First early potato varieties - help!

**redser** · 13-01-2014, 08:18 AM

Hi. I haven't tried any of those but I'd like to recommend Lady Christl. One of the fastest around to bulk up. You can harvest them as delish baby/salad spuds or leave them to grow on into full size spuds. Really nice and if you leave them to get big they store very well too.

**snakeshack** · 13-01-2014, 08:31 AM

I like pentland javelin ,they crop well for me on my clay with plenty of manure leaving time for my leeks afterward and taste good .they only fall apart on boiling if it's been exceptionally wet in the last couple of weeks before harvest.

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**Aberdeenplotter** · 13-01-2014, 08:54 AM

Red Duke of York for me. They can go to mush but I start mine with boiling water and that seems to sort that problem.

**Thelma Sanders** · 13-01-2014, 09:55 AM

Lady Chrystl or Pentland Javelin for me.
The PJs are a little later to bulk than most earlies, though - so do prefer the LCs

**Bren In Pots** · 13-01-2014, 10:53 AM

I've been happy with both Pentland javelin and Arran pilot but Rocket was a let down.

**Nicos** · 13-01-2014, 11:03 AM

Why boil???

Most peeps here steam their spuds- as do we now!
I've found that even the 'fragile' varieties cope well with steaming- and they keep their flavour better too!

Have a go!

**Aberdeenplotter** · 13-01-2014, 03:12 PM

Originally posted by Nicos View Post

Why boil???

cos, cos, cos it's what my granny taught my mum to do

xx

**Nicos** · 13-01-2014, 03:33 PM

Originally posted by Aberdeenplotter View Post

cos, cos, cos it's what my granny taught my mum to do

xx

I bet she also said not to pick yr nose eh???

**Potstubsdustbins** · 13-01-2014, 03:43 PM

Another vote for Lady C and Red duke of York.

With regard to Swift, I used to grow them as they are amongst the earliest of new spuds, having tried other varieties I now am prepared to wait a little longer for a better taste.

Potty

**Aberdeenplotter** · 13-01-2014, 03:54 PM

Originally posted by Nicos View Post

I bet she also said not to pick yr nose eh???

well not before peeling the spuds at any rate

**Two_Sheds** · 13-01-2014, 09:09 PM

Originally posted by Scottish_Gooner View Post

I especially want varieties that do not fall to pieces when boiled!

Don't boil them then: microwave or steam them instead

**toby6668** · 14-01-2014, 08:52 PM

Anyone have any experience of Maris Bard?....bought them on a whim really and they are chitting in the back kitchen. Lottie spud plot is quite heavy clay with a good layer of manure on top (hoping the worms do the hard work!)

**WPG** · 14-01-2014, 09:14 PM

Toby, yes I grew Maris Bard last year, and they were really good. My soil is clay like yours, but they did fine. Although they're a first early, my Maris Bard were more the size of a maincrop potato when I lifted them, possibly I left them in too long.

The other first earlies which I grew last year were Sharpes Express, and to be honest they were the only type of potato I grew which disappointed. Despite being left in a few weeks longer they were mostly marble sized. Maybe they didn't fare so well in the cold snap which we had last spring.

This year the first earlies which I've ordered are Lady Christl and Sherina, have high hopes for them.

**toby6668** · 14-01-2014, 09:15 PM

Ahh that's great news - I am reassured. Thank you so much

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First early potato varieties - help!

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