uses for potatoes?

[watkin girl]

hi everyone im a new member. Last year i did a trial run of maris piper potatoes and they turned out really well. so this year im growing differnt types.
1. rocket
2. shannon (red)
3.maris piper (again because they are brill)
4. valor
the only thing i find is that different websites/seed catalouges suggest different ways for cooking for the one spud. Has anyone grown those varieties above and if so what were they like taste wise and cooking wise.

[watkin girl]

[Merry Tiller]

Rocket is not a bad new potato, very early, boil only IMHO

Maris Piper you know about already

Shannon I haven't tried but spud guru Alan Romans doesn't seem very keen on it flavour wise, it has a low drymatter (waxy) so boiling is probably best and disease resistance is poor

Valor I haven't tried either and again it is a waxy boiler, possibly better flavour though and decent disease resistance

If you want some real potato flavour go for one of the high drymatter (floury) varieties like Arran Victory, Kerr's Pink or Golden Wonder

[saddad]

I like waxy boilers but have to agree Arran Victory is a great late main... same probs as PFA though!
;D

[Merry Tiller]

Hmm, both grow well for me, I love Majestic but the scab makes it horrible on my plot

[Froglegs]

Try Picasso great flavour when baked,very high yield and despite what the cats tell you in the 2 year's Ive grown this spud slugs have not been a prob.......oh and when you roast them they go a little(mmmm just the way i like them ;))crispy with a taste to die for. :)

[saddad]

Picasso was our best cropper last year... just eating our way through them at the moment. Just too big for jackets though! Do make great Roasties and very little slug damage!
8)

[supersprout]

I've not grown Picasso on my own plot, but do get them given by a neighbouring regular who grows industrial quantities and can't eat em all. Delicious, smooth, versatile and some are monsters :o - thumbs up here too :)

[Merry Tiller]

I tried a few Picasso this year, picked them up at Ryton potato day, I was impressed enough to order 3kg for next year along with Desiree, Red Dukes and Yukon Gold.

What I'm really looking forward to though is the pink & purple spuds I grew from seed saved from Salad Blue last year, didn't have enough to try the taste, just enough to save as seed potatoes

[triffid]

Picasso was our best cropper last year... Just too big for jackets though!)

How big are they, saddad? *has never come across a spud the triffid tribe consider 'too big for jackets'*   ;D

[laurieuk]

I have just been to get my seed potatoes £2.55 per 3kgs at our local lottie association. I grow Rocket, Kestrel and Cara. All varieties vary in flavour and cooking qualities according to the soil in your garden.

[saddad]

Some of the Picasso were 10-12" long and about 1kg each!
::)
I've grown Salad Blue and Burgundy red... makes a very interesting plate!
8)

[tim]

A great potato - this was typical.

[Merry Tiller]

All varieties vary in flavour and cooking qualities according to the soil in your garden

Very true, I'm still experimenting with new varieties each year to find the best for my plot

[saddad]

I always experiment MT... main reason for going to potato day!
8)

[cornykev]

 :) ;) Never grown any ff them just thought I'd say hi.   :D :D :D ;D ;D ;D ;D :-*

[saddad]

Hi Kev... why niot go to a potato day, you can buy individual tubers @12-15p and will be 100+ varieties to choose from!
;D

[cornykev]

:) Might just do that Saddad don't know if there any local in my area how do I find out?

[Merry Tiller]

Buckingham's not that far from you is it? I'm pretty sure there's one in London somewhere too

[ermck1]

Th Rocket were a very heavy cropper but lacking in taste. Not growing them this (sorry next) year.

Pink Fir Apples - now there is a different potato! The smell when boiling is amazing and the taste and texture were spot on. A big crop of these for me next year.

M

[growmore]

One of the best all round main crop potatoe  that  I have found is Condor it mashes , boils, and  makes great chips also I find it keeps well... 
For earlies I find Sharpe's Express a good one It is also a good all rounder . Makes a great new tattie if took small . If left in it is also a good masher ,chipper etc ..
Got  to agree with ermck1 comments on the Rocket...  Cheers Jim