Best early potato?

[caroline7758]

I've decided it's not cost effective to give up lots of space to spuds when they are cheap compared to other veg and may get ruined by blight. So I'm thinking of just growing earlies next year as new pots are the most expensive. What varieties have you found the most reliable and tasty?

[caroline7758]

[tonybloke]

go with 'rocket' you won't be disappointed  ;)

[jayc1978]

One of my favorites is 'Maris Bard' boiled in its skin and served with a bit of butter.  ;D

[saddad]

Epicure is still the best at recovering from a frosting...  :-\

[kt.]

Arron pilot are OK. But Charlotte, although a 2nd early is fabulously tasty and delicious.

[jimtheworzel]

try ulser chieftain  or sharpes express grown em for years...good croppers

[Kea]

I'm just going to grow earlies too. Maris Bard are my favourites..same as jay.

[manicscousers]

we grew swift this year, wasn't too impressed with the taste, mind you, they were better than shop bought ones  ;D
going back to rocket next year

[Bill Door]

So thats Two for maris bard and two for rocket.

That has certainly helped me make up my mind  ;D ;D ;).

Bill

[grawrc]

I love Lady Christl and 2nd earlies Kestrel. For my experiments this year I'm trying International Kidney which i intend to grow as first earlies and belle de fontenay which I don't (I'll grow them as early maincrop).
this year i grew picasso as my experiment and wasn't overly impressed. I may have lifted them a bit too soon.

[Tin Shed]

I grow Rocket - are really early, the flavour isn't the very best, but the first news are always good what ever the taste! Accent is also an early with really good flavour.

[telboy]

Arran Pilot!

[caroline7758]

Thanks for the input. Looks like I may have to have two varieties! Also I was really pleased with Charlotte this year!At this rate I'll be growing as many as ever!

[Trevor_D]

By "early", do you mean the very earliest you can get? Only one contender there - Lady Chrystl. It beats all the others by at least a week and has a far better flavour & texture than most of the others.

Or a summer salad potato? If so, Charlotte is a winner; but my current favourite is Roseval, which has produced a massive crop for the last two years which has kept us in salad potatoes throughout the summer and tastes superb.

And the early I keep coming back to (first grew it in the early '70s) is Home Guard, which isn't the earliest, but has a beautiful taste & texture.

[cornykev]

Save some room for at least one line of Kestrel 2nds.  ;D ;D ;D

[blisters]

I've grown Lady Christl for the past 2 years and they have been great.  Would be reluctant to change.

[caroline7758]

Is it asking too much to ask for a variety that produces nice small salad potatoes but then also nice bigger ones if left if the ground?

[hopalong]

Is it asking too much to ask for a variety that produces nice small salad potatoes but then also nice bigger ones if left if the ground?

I was surprised how big some of my Charlottes grew this year when left in the ground. They are second earlies, of course. First and second earlies don't seem to suffer slug damage either, like maincrop spuds do fi left in the ground too long.

[Trevor_D]

And quite a few first earlies go floury as they bulk up - Duke of York, Sharpes Express (both fabulous taste early on, but very tricky to cook later - and not as tasty)

[philcooper]

You could go along to a Potato Day and ask for advice - and take one or two tubers of several varieties. Taste is very personal and growing conditions effect taste and can vary even across and allotment.

Have  a look at www.potatoday.org