Saturday 31 August 2024

In My Seed Box For 2025 - Potatoes

 

Most companies historically dispatch & delivered around the end of January/ start of March. I have all the insulated chitting boxes made a couple of years ago ready to rock and roll. I have one order in at the moment with Marshalls Garden and I'm pondering what other varieties to try this year. 

                                                  

10506911 - Arran Pilot  - First Early Taster Pack - Marshalls 

10506914 - Charlotte - Second Early Taster Pack - Marshalls   

10506913 - Cara - Late Main Crop Taster Pack - Marshalls

 10506847 - Heidi Red - Main Crop 1 kg - Marshalls

##### - Variety Name - Type - To Be Determined  

 

Taster Packs are New to Marshalls this year, basically you get 5 Tubers and the cost is reduced. Just 5 tubers can produce at least 2-3kg of potatoes. These packs are great value if you only want to grow a few potatoes, or only have a small space. Ideal packs to try several varieties without filling your whole plot with just one variety.

The same potatoes are available in 1kg (Approx. 12 - 15 Tubers) & 2kg  (Approx. 25 - 30 Tubers) packs.

There are three main types of potato to grow, named according to when you plant and harvest them.

First early or ‘new’ potatoes are the earliest to crop, in June and July. They don't store for long so are best eaten fresh.

Second earlies (also called ‘new’ potatoes) take a few more weeks to mature and are harvested in July and August. These also don't store for long, so are best eaten fresh. Salad potatoes have a firm, waxy texture and many have an intense, nutty flavour. They are usually first earlies or second earlies.

Maincrop potatoes take the longest to mature and are harvested from August to October. They are suitable for baking, roasting and mashing, and can be stored for a few months.

First early potatoes

First early or 'new' potatoes are so-called because they are the earliest to crop, in June. They take 10-12 weeks to mature. Plant 30cm apart, with 60cm between rows, around 12cm deep.

Plant: March (with frost protection)
Harvest: June and July
Recommended varieties: 
'Arron Pilot', 'Red Duke of York', 'Lady Christl', 'Orla' and 'Rocket'.

Second early potatoes

Second early potatoes take 14-16 weeks to mature. As with first earlies, plant them 30cm apart, in rows 60cm apart, 12cm deep.

Plant: March (with frost protection)
Harvest: July and August
Recommended varieties: 'Charlotte', 'Maris Peer', 'Ratte'

Maincrop potatoes

Maincrops take 16-22 weeks to mature. Plant 40cm deep, in rows 75cm apart, at a depth of 12cm.

Plant: mid to late April
Harvest: August to October
Recommended varieties: 'Pink Fir Apple', 'Desiree', 'Cara', 
'Helidi Red', 'Maris Piper', 'King Edward', 'Sarpo Mira'

Salad potatoes

Salad potatoes share a firm, waxy texture and many have an intense, nutty flavour, perfect with a knob of melted butter or cold in a potato salad. They are usually first earlies or second earlies.


In My Seed Box For 2025 - Index

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