Potatoes

• 02-06-2010 6:44 PM

  www.hortweek.com Joined on 06-30-2008 Posts 798	Potatoes Reply Contact No grow-your-own offer is complete without spuds and the range is inspiring, says Miranda Kimberley. Read the whole article.

• 02-06-2010 6:44 PM

  In reply to

  david shaw Joined on 02-06-2010 Posts 1

  RE: Potatoes Reply Contact I would like to comment on what you say about blight resistance in certain varieties. Orla, which most folk grow as a tasty second early, used to have impressive blight resistance but sadly, it has succumbed to a new strain of blight known as Blue 13. This strain is now widespread in UK and has knocked out the resistance of many varieties which had scored highly for resistance to older strains. The reference books and databases are way out of date and it will take some time for them to be updated. To my knowledge, many older varieties, including Gladstone and Edgecote Purple have yet to be re-assessed with the new strain. Luckily some newly bred varieties including Sarpo Mira and Axona are resistant to Blue 13. The message is - don't believe all you read about varieties with blight resistance; the majority of formerly resistant varieties have lrecently lost most or all of it. The Sarvari Research Trust, a not-for-profit company, conducts blight resistance trials of many varieties including new Sarpo selections each summer.

• 02-08-2010 5:47 PM

  In reply to

  Richard Loader Joined on 09-12-2008 New Forest Posts 3	RE: Potatoes Reply Contact My experience is as described by David Shaw. Sarpo Mira and Axona are the only varieties I know that really show blight resistance. I have grown Orla and found that it falls to the new Blue 13 just like the rest. The Sarpo varieties are in a different league when it comes to blight resistance.

• 02-08-2010 6:19 PM

  In reply to

  John Walker Joined on 02-19-2009 North Wales Posts 62

  Re: RE: Potatoes Reply Contact You can see an image of the Sarpo's, including the new introductions, in a blogpost I wrote following the 2009 open day at the Sarvari Research Trust. To say they are in 'a different league', is spot on. Anyone interested in developing their gardening (or indeed their food growing business) along low carbon, earth-friendly lines, needs to be growing Sarpo varieties. http://www.landscapejuice.com/2009/08/new-sarpo-superspuds-lead-the-way-in-low-carbon-gardening.html http://www.landscapejuice.com/john-walker/

  Filed under: climate change, new plants, environment, organic, Grow Your Own, Food security, Allotments, gardening, seed potatoes

• 02-11-2010 9:08 AM

  In reply to

  Chris B Joined on 10-09-2009 UK Posts 42	RE: Potatoes Reply Contact We have seen interest in growing this easy crop rising, and the uptake of heritage varieties too. The Sarpo varieties look very interesting as new generation potatoes.

• 02-15-2010 8:53 AM

  In reply to

  Dee Landman Joined on 10-16-2008 Posts 3	RE: Potatoes Reply Contact I grew Pentland Javelin on my allotment for about ten years, so glad to see it on the list. No problems with pests or diseases, and its just the best tasting early ever. So clean too: just show it the tap and the soil falls off........

• 02-16-2010 6:24 PM

  In reply to

  Iain Barbour Joined on 09-04-2009 Scotland Posts 19	RE: Potatoes Reply Contact What a good read and plenty of choice to suit everyones needs. The heritage varieties have been brought back just to give people a taste of the past and are of a real interest to the general public. They are a bit like vintage cars, just that little bit special if you know what I mean.