Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi

Today on radio 4 there was an item about a new potato-like tuber, marketed as Mayan Gold in the UK.

A quick browse around the web, particularly www.pfaf.org/databas... suggests that their new tuber is a hybrid between Solanum Tuberosum and solanum phureja.

Is it? or Is it not?

It would be nice to know for a fact what species/hybrid exactly this new tuber is, instead of just being given the Sales Patter of a new Product Marketing Launch.

The interviewee was asked if the interviewer's wife could grow these Mayan Gold potatoes on their allotment. The answer was yes.

T

I grew them last year trial pack of 5 from T&M nice buttery flavour

The T& M catalogue describes Mayan Gold as "of the 'phureja' type" if that helps. I grew some this year. Unfortunately I had to harvest them early as blight was on the warpath so some of the spuds were on the small side but they have been voted very delicious by the family and I intend to grow them again next year. The one thing that irritates me is the name. The Mayans as far as I know had nothing to do with potatoes - it was the Incas and so they should be called Inca Gold in my opinion, for what it is worth.

T&M have been marketing these potatoes for a couple of years now... Media finally catching up with the GYO-ers?!!

__________________
Sarah

“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

I've seen Mayan Gold tubers on sale in both Tescos and Waitrose (to eat not plant!) for the last couple of years and it might be worth giving them a go before ordering some for the lottie? They are a lovely gold colour, quite creamy and with a delicious nutty flavour.

At the moment they are ONLY available from T & M as seed potatoes, and the price is high. I don't know what their disease resistence is like, but I thought they were actually supposed to be partially blight resistant? They are certainly suitable for allotments anyway!!

LCG

Hi La Cebolla Grande, just to say I love your nick!