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Hi, lots of talk about potato yields for earlies what about flavour ,commercial farmers look for yields . This year Ive been digging Arran Pilot earlies and the flavour is very good. 3 weeks ago about 1/1/2 lbs now about 2lbs per plant.What do people think the best flavoured earlies are.

Tom

we love pentland javelin

pentland javelin gets my vote to

Thanks for the comments ,sometimes on the forum people don`t share their experience unless they`re trying to sound clever or say something silly . I would like to hear more about peoples experiences of trying different varieties of vegetables.

Tom

You're right about commercially grown crops. A farmer friend said that potato growers know exactly when to give water to increase the yield - I think they start seriously watering when the spuds reach the pea stage. I think this is the main reason that it is impossible to buy fruit and vegetables that have much taste, as overwatering and copious levels of nitrogen pumped into them certainly reduces flavour. My favourite early for taste is still Epicure.

I always go for flavour as opposed to yield and Epicure are my favourites everytime!

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This year for the first time I have grown RIVIERA superb taste and very good yield I had 5 pound off one root and another favourite of mine for taste is Lady Christl and this year the yield is also very good

I have no idea what spuds I am eating, because the labels are lost under a grass clipping mulch and loads of foliage. They're big spuds ... I suspect I have dug up my main crop.

They're well tasty though.

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My earlies are Amandine, not the best - some have quite a tinny taste. I don't think I will do them again. My second earlies are agate, so far they seem much better.

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Tx

LOL.

My favourites are International Kidney (aka Jersey Royals).

The flavour is the same as those you buy, but a little less strong - I'm afraid I can't provide them with the lovely sun and perfect soil that they get on the island!

I am trying Anya for the first time this year and they are proving popular too.

I like Arran Pilot too - I grow a few every year. This year I've tried Lady Crystl and Anya. Both of these are superb as salad spuds. Used to grow a lot of charlotte but these 3 are better in my opinion. Yeilds reasonable too.

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My first year of growing potatoes. They are International Kidney, and so far have been scrumptious

Sadly I have eaten all mine now

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You'll Never Walk Alone.

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Thanks for your replies.It looks like I need to plant half a dozen different varieties next year.

Tom

Last year we grew Pentland Javelin as our First Earlies, great taste and good yields, but this year we decided to try a few other types, Orla and Lady Christl, Ulster Sceptre and Arran Pilot. 2 full beds worth of seed spuds, but as yet (we've only harvested a few plants yet as they dont seem to have fully swelled of flowered yet) yields have been disappointing and taste hasn't measured up to the Pentland Javelins that we grew last year!

Next year we will be growing Pentland Javelins for definite!

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So far, tried some of the Orla and Colleen. Colleen gets my vote, Orla a bit bland. Will try the Pentland Javelins next year after all those positive comments.

I find Orla bland too. I've got about half a dozen types, but only 10 of each. It seemed the best way to try different varieties even though it works out a bit dearer than a big bag of one sort. Next year, Old Favourite Arran Pilot with a bigger batch of Anya and Lady Crystl I think.

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It takes more oil than vinegar to make a good salad dressing.

vegheaven.blogspot.com Updated Sept 2nd 2008

I`ve been getting about 1/1/2 lb to 2lb off one arran pilot plant ,is this average?

Tom

Desiree potatoes are my favourites so far - Fried they are just....... something else.

Arran Pilot for me also. I have got International kidney, Vales emerald, Yukon Gold and Ulster Sceptre to try yet, and looking forward to it too. I was a bit late with the planting, due to work loads. But they all come good in the end.

Could be cos you live in Manchester.LOL,

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You'll Never Walk Alone.

Doing Nothing is Hard Work Because you Never Know When You've Finished!!!!!

This year I have three varieties - Charlotte (cause everyone knows it and likes it), Lady Christl (cause IMO it tastes better than Charlotte and I'm on a one man mission to convert Ross-shire and East Sutherland to my way of thinking) and Red Duke of York 9cause they like floury tatties up here. Last year I had Edzell Blue which sold out as quick as I could lift em but my seed supplier failed me this year so I have RDOY instead. I also had Maris Peer last year and I couldn't give them away - apart from to one of my mates who fed them to his ducks !

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I like charlotte and have been averaging 5lb per plant. They seem to be a bigger size this year as well. I have valor and cara but as yet have not dug any. I also have pink fir which I find a superb taste but not so good on quantity. Have main crop of all three sarpo varieties but not expecting the flavour of them to be in the same class as the first earlies.

Ian