Wednesday, 27 February 2013

let the chitting Commence…..

IMG_0869Well were off, yesterday saw the first action for the new growing season, I went to my local garden centre and selected my seed potatoes for the coming season, I am being a bit more conservative this year as last year I conducted a trial into old heritage variety’s selecting 10 different potatoes but the weather was not the best for it really but still ended up with a decent crop.

I am not bothering with First earlies this year, the last few years I have been disappointed with the yield from them so I am opting for just a single Second early and 3 main crop varieties. I am going with what has produced well for me over the years this year to try and guarantee a good crop (if there is such a thing as a guaranteed crop)

The variety’s selected this year are:

British Queen, second Early this produced a great crop last year and tasted wonderful

Santé, main crop grow this every year really reliable and good cropping

Cara, main crop great for the allotment blight resistant and can cope with lack of watering

King Edwards, main crop this has been a reliable crop for me in the past.

I Really wanted to grow Dr Macintosh again this year but cant find anywhereIMG_0870 that stock it so may have to keep a look out because if i find it i will grow some because they were the best crop by far last year for taste and yield.

That’s it for this year just the 4 types hopefully I will get a good yield and should see us through the year for potatoes and that’s a goal of mine to not by potatoes for a whole season and just use what’s produced at the plot.

Let’s hope the weather is better this year for the allotment.

Thanks for reading…

Posted by at 10:22 am

14 comments:

  1. Anonymous27 February 2013 at 10:38

    Sante is one of my favourites - realiable cropper, does well in bad years for me, and great baking potato. yum.

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  2. Stacy27 February 2013 at 10:45

    Yes Sante is one of my favourites also like you say its a great for any weather and will crop reliably

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  3. Sue Garrett27 February 2013 at 11:00

    Almost the opposite to us we only grow one early maincrop with the rest being first and second earlies. WE do better this way round - strange world isn't it?

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    Replies
    1. Stacy28 February 2013 at 08:20

      It is bizarre how things differ from plot to plot

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  4. Jo27 February 2013 at 13:21

    I always feel it's the start of the growing year when my potatoes are put out to chit. I don't grow many potatoes, I haven't had much luck with them in the allotment, they tend to succumb to pests, so I'm growing mine in containers. I've had much more success with them grown this way.

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  5. Anonymous27 February 2013 at 16:50

    I hope so too, but sticking to new potatoes (pink fir apple) and growing them in bags just in case.

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    1. Stacy28 February 2013 at 08:21

      Before my allotment I use to grow in tubs but I always found the yield was not up to scratch

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  6. Mark Willis27 February 2013 at 20:21

    I also grow only Earlies (with the exception of Pink Fir Apple, which is an early Maincrop), so that I can bring them to maturity before the blight gets them.
    Isn't it typical that just when you find a variety that you like and which does well, it vanishes from the market? So frustrating!

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    1. Stacy28 February 2013 at 08:23

      Yes it is very frustrating when you find one that you like then next year it's gone!

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  7. Annie_H27 February 2013 at 21:38

    Yes you definitely feel that its the proper start of the growing year when the potatoes are chitting! I didn't have too bad a year last year though think my earlies were the best. I'm growing Pentland Javelin again this year, plus two new ones Charlotte and Desiree. Fingers crossed.

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    Replies
    1. Stacy28 February 2013 at 08:24

      I have grown all 3 of those potatoes in the past and done well with them all :-)

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  8. Anonymous27 February 2013 at 22:43

    I remember reading your potato trial posts last year. I'm only planting main crop this year. My usual supplier sold out early this year and having ordered from another supplier via the internet I wasn't impressed with the quality. Anyway I got them chitting today. Can't see me getting much else done whilst I'm still on crutches.

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  9. Stacy28 February 2013 at 08:25

    I really enjoyed the potato trial last year, got me looking at my spuds differently. I hope your up and about soon :-)

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  10. Mark N28 February 2013 at 13:10

    I'm fast becoming a spud fetishist. I like the sound for British Queen - are they big enough for jacket spuds?

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