What Seed Potatoes do i get?

LucyL

Ok so i know im almost running out of time to get them chitted etc as should have done this last week, but as usual, alot of things got in the way.

As some of you may know i live in inverness, Scotland. I have no previous experience with growing any vegetables!

I'm thinking of having one bin with earliers and one with mains

- Do they get planted at the same time?

- What would be the best early/main for where i am? (i'm wanting a kinda General Purpose tattie thats good for doing most things)

- Do they need alot of sunshine when planted in bin, or is shaded corner ok?

- how long do they roughly take to chit?

- Do you have to chit them?

- what am i best looking for when choosing the seed tattie?

Like always thanks for your advice (sorry for so many questions!) I will be buying from local garden centres, so that i can chit them asap.

Hostafan1

you need to look for nice firm seed spuds, like you'd do if you were going to eat them, avoid anything wrinkly and don't be tempted to buy those which already have long shoots.

Some folk chit some don't, I can't imagine a farmer with acres to plant carefully chits each and every one.

I grew Lady Chrisl a couple of years back and it was lovely ( survey in RHS Garden mag said it was best in their trial)

Give them as much sun as you can and never let them dry out.

Chrissy the gardener

I grew Lady Chrisl last year and they where realy good so will be growing again this year.

Sapho varieties are supposedly the best to avoid blight.

Unknown

Potatoes come as first earlies, second earlies and maincrop.

Either 'Swift' or 'Rocket' would be my recommendation for first early potatoes. 'Kestrel' or 'Maris Peer'  as second earlies and 'Maris Piper' or 'Cara' as maincrop varieties......but it's really down to individual taste. 

It seems generally accepted now that chitting only befits early varieties.

Planting times vary according to where you live, so best check with local gardeners when they plant theirs.

First & second early potatoes can be planted at the same time......it's just the maturing times vary. Maincrop will be planted about a month later.

Edit: The above is posted on the basis you say you have no knowledge of growing veg....others will find it quite basic.

 

pottering girl

Although I think growing potatoes is a bit of a faff.  The best results I had were Charlotte.

Winniecat

I also like charlotte and they have a certain level of blight resistance which is always good. You're not that late chitting Lucy, I started mine last week, will plant mid-end April. I am in Cornwall so probably different in Scotland.

LucyL

Thanks for the information everyone, the more info i can recieve hopefully the more likely i am to have them succeed

Winniecat I am glad to hear that i am not that late, so I will get my rear in gear n' get some tatties bought

Lupin 1

I'm growing:

1st earlies Rocket that David recommended to me rather than my usual Pentland Javelin and also Vales Emerald which I enjoyed last year.

2nd earlies are Charlotte. 

Main crop, which I haven't bothered with before are Anya growing them because they are supposed to be waxy and store well. 

I'm tempted to try a few main crop Pink fir that I know Runnybeak grows and enjoys. They look a bit  but supposed to taste lovely.

Mine are all now planted in spud bags and will stay in old GH until I'm sure we won't have a hard frost. 

David I think it was you who posted last year about how many weeks from planting to harvesting  If you have time would you do it again it might help 1st time growers. 

Lupin 1

Thanks Edd  I'm convinced. 

Unknown

I would just add that it's a good idea to jot down the planting date, because as sure as eggs is eggs, there be lots of questions here later, asking 'how can I tell when my potatoes ready'.....truth is, you don't until you lift them, but the planting date is some sort of guide.

I work on first earlies taking between 10 to 12 weeks, some modern varieties mature earlier than others, but usually within these parameters......second earlies take 12 to 16 weeks.

Maincrop usually mature in about 20 weeks...or August/September in my own case.

Welshonion

Lucy, I would forget about Maincrop for this year. Your own First Earlies are the ones to go for.



Maincrop are in the ground for so long, and for a first-time gardener the professionals do it better.



I know lots of gardeners will disagree, but use the ground for crops you can't buy of the same quality that you could grow. Beans; broad, runner and French, Lovely lettuces. All the squash family. Small carrots. The choice is endless.