This discussion has been closed.
Posted by meekylinda (U14928957) on Sunday, 10th July 2011
hi all
have dug up a couple of lovely looking potatoes from my patch and when i cooked them the water was full of starch and the potato was almost dissolved. this happenend last year too when i grew in a tub rather than in soli. what am i doing wrong? I am 56 and know how to cook a spud so it's not that. i have tried skin on and skin off. any suggestions please.
What variety? Maybe it's a starchy type that doesn't boil well. The waxier types boil better
wish i could remember but they were earlies..!
Well, I think they might have been a starchy variety. They don't boil particularly well whether early or maincrop. It's the only explanation I can think of.
It could be the variety.
I found a similar problem cooking Charlotte spuds, I don't grow them anymore, no matter how gentle they were cooked, steaming seemed the best method to ensure they kept their skins and didn't go to nothing.
thanks i will try roasting !!!
I have this problem every year with any first early I grow in the allotment. The first potatoes I cook all dissolve in the water and then I remember, d'oh this happened last year and steaming worked! No idea why but they still taste delicious
I know it seemjs contrary, but if you leave them a day ot two after being dug, they boil better.
The air seems to firm them up a little.
it may be that they are just too old and should have been lifted sooner
variety makes a difference, Maris peer is a good one
I know it seemjs contrary, but if you leave them a day ot two after being dug, they boil better.
The air seems to firm them up a little.Â
I GREW MARYLYN FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE NEXT ROOTS I DUG UP, I LEFT FOR A FEW DAYS FOR THE SKINS TO HARDEN SLIGHTLY. AFTER BOILING THEY WERE FIRMER AND DIDN'T DISSOLVE.
thankyou all so much..i will have a go at steaming...and i have dug a few and left them for a day or two..have also just spoken to my neighbour who is having the same problem..maybe it was our very dry spring(we are in east kent).
Par boil and then leave for half an hour or so, in the water.
New potatoes have a much higher water content in them, so if you boil hard you just boil the water away.
Thank capslock for the ideas.
I had the same problem with the second bag of spuds I dug up. The first bag boiled fine, I left the second bag a few extra weeks until I needed them. They were both the same type and planted at the same time. I think the second lot were wetter too because of more rain, so it was either I left them too long or too much water content.
Cheers Jen
Welcome to the new Gardening Board. If this is your first time, then make sure you check out the
or  to take part in a discussion.
The message board is currently closed for posting.
Weekdays 09:00-00:00
Weekends 10:00-00:00
This messageboard is .
Find out more about this board's
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú © 2014 The Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.