Monday 24 September 2012

Lets talk New Potaotes.

OK so I know the time for new potatoes have passed so you are probably wondering where this post came from  right out of the blue like this. Well if you remember I have whined a bit about taste and textures of potatoes I have grown in the past so this year I grew a selection in order to try and find 'My' perfect new potatoes and in this post I will give you my findings.

Taste and texture preferences come down to each individual and I don't think I can describe the taste I like but I love a waxy texture with a yellow/white skin and flesh.

I like my new potatoes to taste great boiled either hot or cold and I also like to be able to slice them once cooked and yet they still hold together nicely so as to make potato salads or even have the luxury of frying them.

Also when growing potatoes soil is a huge factor. I have quite a high clay content soil which holds the moisture quite well...I have no idea of the lime or ph content though as I have never done these sorts of tests.

Basically what I am trying to tell you here is that my findings are based on my soil and my tastes so although you may want to give them a try from my findings you may not get the same results!!

I broke the scoring system down into four categories, yield, taste, texture and size. Each of these were marked out of 5 so the overall score is out of 20.

Anya new potaotes

Yield                    3
Texture               4
Taste                   3
Size                     4

Overall score    14

charlotte new poatoes

Yield                         4
Texture                    3
Taste                        3
Size                           3

Overall score          13
nicola new potatoes

Yield                         4
Texture                    5
Taste                        5
Size                           4

Overall score         18
Pentland Javelin new potatoes

Yield                       2
Texture                  1
Taste                      2
Size                         3

Overall score         8
pink fir apple new potatoes

 Yield                    4
Texture                4
Taste                    4
Size                      4

Overall score      16
swift new potatoes

Yield                       2
Texture                  4
Taste                      5
Size                        4

Overall score      15


So there you have my findings. There were a three varieties that we really liked the taste of but the best for texture was fortunately also the one that had the best yield. This wasn't just my decision...I got input form all of the family as although I grow them I am not the only one that eats them so I wanted a good all rounder that everybody was happy with.

I am also happy in the fact that I did not find any pests on the highest scoring and so net year the only potatoes I will grow will be the Nicola. 

The most uncanny thing it this isn't even a potato that I bought but 5 tubers I got as a freebie from T&M!!

So which are you favourites new potatoes?? Whether you have grown them yourself or bought them in store I would love to know which ones you go for !!
.

18 comments:

  1. It's funny how people's findings can be so different. I've grown your lowest scoring, Pentland Javelin, before and thought they were really good. I grew a few of your highest scoring, Nicola, this year and wasn't impressed. The two favourites I've grown so far are Arran Pilot and Sharpes Express. Saying that, if I tasted potatoes you'd grown, I'd probably have a different opinion because, as you say, even the soil they're grown in can make a difference to the taste.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have tried Arran Pilot in the past Jo and wasn't overly impressed...I have never tried Sharpes express though.

      It does all come down to personal taste and soil structure and make up.

      Delete
  2. It may be risky putting all your faith in one variety next year. We grow a mix of varieties as if the weather conditions are very different nexy year a different variety may be best. Must say though we grow Nicola every year and like it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear what you're saying Sue but if i take that into account then would I grow the ones that I didn't like in the hopes that if the weather was different next year the taste was different..or would I grow something different entirely?? This is the first year I have ever grown a selection...before I have only ever grown one sort and not been happy with them so for now I will just try Nicola next year and see how things go.

      What other varieties are you happy with??

      Delete
    2. Why not try a new variety each year - this year we tried Vales Emerald as one of our new ones and liked that. We also find Charlotte to be a reliable variety.

      Delete
    3. I suppose I could each year try a different variety...maybe just 5 tubers of something to give it a try....I will have to see how much planting room I have.

      Delete
  3. Thats quite a comprehensive comparison Tanya. Nicola always a favourite of mine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Craig..like I said in my post though...they may grow totally different for you!

      Nicola are very good though and as you aren't the first to say it then maybe they are just a fantastic all rounder.

      Delete
  4. Well I've never grown my own potatoes and since I'm not particularly fussy about the taste I always buy whatever is cheapest. I know I do prefer a russet potato over a plain old white potato though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I personally prefer a white potato Ann...but lets face it if we all liked the same thing it would be a boring old world!!

      Delete
  5. My dad would be in heaven seeing all of those potatoes. They were always his favorite food.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Potatoes are a great veg Ratty...so versatile in the way in which you can eat them!

      Delete
  6. I usually find Vivaldi to be the best salad potato. I only grew main crop this year as I didn't get the plot until late January and of course had to dig it all over. Mum loved the Desiree and I have no idea which whites I grew as they were from a bought bag that had started to sprout, so I just planted them. We had a bit of blight but the Desiree stood up to that quite well and I sprayed with Bordeau Mix. If you have buckets or old bins you can plant some now, keeping them frost free, and they will be ready for X-mas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always mean to plant some potatoes for Christmas Liz but then time flies by so quickly I miss the last planting....maybe this weekend I will get around to it though..who knows.

      I have never grown Vivaldi though I have seen them in the stores...maybe it's one I could try for next year.

      I like Desiree too but this year they aren't a main crop I have grown.

      I haven't suffered with blight on my potatoes so far...hopefully I won't have the pleasure I ever meeting Mr Blight!!

      Delete
  7. I like the 3rd picture (nicola). It almost look like the gold potato here in US. This year is my very time planting them, bought from local grocery store...lol. I have to wait and see how they turn out for me. I also planted red potatoes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope your potatoes grow well....They are one of the easier things to get going and there is always an anticipation to them as although they may look good or bad above the ground you never quite know what you are going to find once you start digging!!

      Let me know how they did when you start harvesting.

      Delete
  8. Dear Tanya, I must praise the thought and effort you put into this taste test chart. You are wonderful.
    I like the third potato. It looks like the one I buy at the grocery.
    Blessings dear. Catherine xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Nicola's were my highest scorer Catherine...I guess it's just as well they looked pretty good too!!

      Delete

keep it clean...keep it relevant...I look forward to reading your comments!!