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Potatoes

• Message 1. 

  Posted by thegoat36 (U14338430) on Wednesday, 15th December 2010

  I was a little late last year in planting out, so I opted for second early Maris Peer and Maris Piper as my main crop, as these were the only ones available locally.
  
  I'm not going to bother with a main crop this year, but would like grow to first and second earlies. I would like to use my greenhouse to get an early crop of first earlies.
  
  Anyone got any good suggestions on which variety would be suitable?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Wednesday, 15th December 2010

  I grew rocket, a 1st early last year and charlotte, a 2nd early.
  
  Rocket tasted and cooked far better than charlotte which I found difficult to keep from falling apart when cooking.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Wednesday, 15th December 2010

  Just to add, go to a potato fair if you are lucky enough to have one nearby, they are usually held in Jan/Feb and March, you'll get a bigger choice, some sell up to 100 different varieties and you can buy potatoes in small quantities, ideal if growing them in bags or on a small scale.
  
  Next years venues and dates haven't been posted on the internet yet though.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by whatalottie (U9072847) on Wednesday, 15th December 2010

  I'd like to know when/where the potato fairs are held, Could you give us the website, or even better warn us when it's up.
  
  I'd love to have some of the unusual varieties
  
  Lottie

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by thegoat36 (U14338430) on Thursday, 16th December 2010

  Thanks for the info. I have searched the net and found a fair in Neston in January.
  
  
  

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Thursday, 16th December 2010

  Hope this helps...I've not posted a web site before so hope it works..
  
  www.potatoday.org/potatodays.htm
  
  You should get last years potato fair venues and days from the link above. I presume many do it year after year the one I wanted to go to has had a fair for at least the past 4 years. I won't bore you with why I didn't get there this year but plan to go next if it's on.
  
  

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by zoomer44 (U14019069) on Thursday, 16th December 2010

  
  
  It hasn't worked if you scroll across it and transfer it into your search window it will take you to the site, Lottie, hopefully
  
  

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• Message 8

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by thegoat36 (U14338430) on Friday, 7th January 2011

  Just returned from a trip into town. I called in Poundland to see if there were any bargains, and they have got seed potatoes in packs of eight for a pound, so I bought 2 Charlotte, 1 rocket and 1 Maris peer

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Friday, 7th January 2011

  Sorry tg36 but I don't think you got a bargain there.
  
  By my calculations you have paid around 75 pence per pound for your seed potatoes. I normally pay around 40-45p per pound.
  
  Admittedly I haven't bought my lot for this year so I sincerely hope this is not the price I will have to pay.
  
  If it is they can keep them!
  
  I know things are hard these days but is this just another case of blatant 'rip off' under the 'blanket' of austerity cuts?
  
  Over the years (40+) I have seen gardening products ever increasing but it is getting a bit of a joke now IMHO

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• Message 10

  , in reply to message 9.

  Posted by bogus the fungi man (U14705597) on Friday, 7th January 2011

  You're right Tee Gee. A friend of mine said they had just found a bargain in Poundland: 16 aspirin for a pound. They're 40p in Boots! Not everything that's a pound is a bargain.

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• Message 11

  , in reply to message 10.

  Posted by whatalottie (U9072847) on Tuesday, 11th January 2011

  Aspirin are even cheaper in Sainsburys!

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• Message 12

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by rini (U2365378) on Thursday, 13th January 2011

  I had the same problem with my Charlotte pots last year. They are supposed to be waxy as a salad pot. but the dry conditions in May, June and July caused problems to their skin which made them really difficult to cook. Overall kestrel did best. I grow them every year and they have never disappointed.
  

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• Message 13

  , in reply to message 12.

  Posted by Logissimo (U14020652) on Thursday, 13th January 2011

  Hi,
  
  I don't understand the problems with Charlotte, except perhaps if they are left to fully mature. I don't grow any "earlies" ( I can't find varieties like Rocket here in France) and use Charlotte instead which have worthwhile picking when the flowers start to appear. They usually remain firm and waxy (and delicious) throughout, even those stored over winter but they do not usually last that long!
  
  Don't give up on Charlotte!
  
  Good luck

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• Message 14

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by KaveyF (U2338371) on Saturday, 15th January 2011

  We popped into Aylett's garden centre, near St Albans yesterday and bought all our seed potatoes.
  They have a huge range of first earlies, second earlies and mains and their prices are by size of bag. I'll weigh the medium sized bags we chose but we got an AWFUL lot of potatoes in our two bags, for less than £7!

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