Comments on: Potatoes and their uses, pt 2 http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2006/10/13/potatoes-and-their-uses-pt-2/ The trials and tribulations of a modern crofter Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:38:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: stonehead http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2006/10/13/potatoes-and-their-uses-pt-2/#comment-3379 stonehead Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:38:09 +0000 http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2006/10/13/potatoes-and-their-uses-pt-2/#comment-3379 We planted 2.2km (1.36 miles) of potatoes this year (2007) with the full list <a href="http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2007/04/07/now-for-a-day-off/" rel="nofollow">detailed here</a>. We planted 2.2km (1.36 miles) of potatoes this year (2007) with the full list detailed here.

]]> By: Guy http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2006/10/13/potatoes-and-their-uses-pt-2/#comment-3378 Guy Thu, 19 Apr 2007 10:00:06 +0000 http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2006/10/13/potatoes-and-their-uses-pt-2/#comment-3378 The Yethom Gypsy I had (as microplants) were slaughtered by blight, the worst I'd seen. If you can get them, try Navan for chipping and roasting, they're brilliant. Cara and Desiree were good the last two years. Pink Fir Apple do yield very well, perhaps too well for us, as I can't eat salad potatoes every day for a month! The Yethom Gypsy I had (as microplants) were slaughtered by blight, the worst I’d seen.

If you can get them, try Navan for chipping and roasting, they’re brilliant. Cara and Desiree were good the last two years. Pink Fir Apple do yield very well, perhaps too well for us, as I can’t eat salad potatoes every day for a month!

]]> By: stonehead http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2006/10/13/potatoes-and-their-uses-pt-2/#comment-3369 stonehead Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:43:24 +0000 http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2006/10/13/potatoes-and-their-uses-pt-2/#comment-3369 I've been looking for tubers for Shetland Black, Highland Burgundy Red and Mr Littles Yethom Gypsy (the only tri-colour potato), but only came up with micro-plants. Given our experience with the latter, I decided give them a miss and look for tubers of all three next year. I’ve been looking for tubers for Shetland Black, Highland Burgundy Red and Mr Littles Yethom Gypsy (the only tri-colour potato), but only came up with micro-plants. Given our experience with the latter, I decided give them a miss and look for tubers of all three next year.

]]> By: Guy http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2006/10/13/potatoes-and-their-uses-pt-2/#comment-3361 Guy Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:03:51 +0000 http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2006/10/13/potatoes-and-their-uses-pt-2/#comment-3361 Have you grown Shetland Black? It's sold as a proper crofter's potato, and it's very floury, a bit like Edzell Blue. Can't see how to cook it without it falling apart in the pan. Maybe I could try baking. Have you grown Shetland Black? It’s sold as a proper crofter’s potato, and it’s very floury, a bit like Edzell Blue. Can’t see how to cook it without it falling apart in the pan. Maybe I could try baking.

]]> By: stonehead http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2006/10/13/potatoes-and-their-uses-pt-2/#comment-283 stonehead Fri, 13 Oct 2006 17:40:12 +0000 http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2006/10/13/potatoes-and-their-uses-pt-2/#comment-283 Andrew, Thanks for the extra information. It's very useful and will fit in well with the forthcoming part 3 of my potato uses post, about sourcing seed potatoes and where to get further information. You just missed my latest update on the water situation. We're running dry again so we're going from being careful with water to being strict with water again. Guess who's going to become a stinky minger once more? :) Andrew,

Thanks for the extra information. It’s very useful and will fit in well with the forthcoming part 3 of my potato uses post, about sourcing seed potatoes and where to get further information.
You just missed my latest update on the water situation. We’re running dry again so we’re going from being careful with water to being strict with water again.
Guess who’s going to become a stinky minger once more? :)

]]> By: Andrew Clarke http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2006/10/13/potatoes-and-their-uses-pt-2/#comment-281 Andrew Clarke Fri, 13 Oct 2006 14:54:00 +0000 http://stonehead.wordpress.com/2006/10/13/potatoes-and-their-uses-pt-2/#comment-281 Have tried Noisette (early but disappointing yield and flavour), Pink Fir Apple (very high yield and excellent flavour) and Ambo (Maincrop with high yield and great flavour - Huge potato's!!). Ambo was the huge success for us this year and produced a huge crop in tough clayey ground. It is a modern cross of Cara bred for organic farming and produces fantastic bakers. Well worth a try. I got our seed from Tuckers this year and can't fault them. Here's a good link to the Centre for Organic Seed Information website with results for Potato trials, including taste test!! http://www.cosi.org.uk/web/cosi/cosi.nsf/VarietyTrials/6B00988574AF063E802570D800366D4E All the best, Andrew Have tried Noisette (early but disappointing yield and flavour), Pink Fir Apple (very high yield and excellent flavour) and Ambo (Maincrop with high yield and great flavour - Huge potato’s!!).

Ambo was the huge success for us this year and produced a huge crop in tough clayey ground. It is a modern cross of Cara bred for organic farming and produces fantastic bakers. Well worth a try. I got our seed from Tuckers this year and can’t fault them.

Here’s a good link to the Centre for Organic Seed Information website with results for Potato trials, including taste test!!

http://www.cosi.org.uk/web/cosi/cosi.nsf/VarietyTrials/6B00988574AF063E802570D800366D4E
All the best,

Andrew

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