My Garden

Disappointing early potatoes

Last post 14-07-2009 5:23 PM by debbielon. 3 replies.

• 10/07/2009 10:57 AM

  Sandgrown Location: Kent Joined on: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 2

  Reply | Contact I have grown Sharpe's Express early potatoes for the first time this year and although the yield is reasonable the flavour is poor and they disintegrate quickly when boiled. Could anyone tell me if this poor cooking quality is due to the variety or whether it is caused by other factors e.g. weather. My second earlies are Belle de Fontenay and these are better although again, they have a tendency to break up in the pan if they are left even slightly longer than neccessary.

• 10/07/2009 11:16 AM	In reply to
  miranda Location: Oxfordshire Joined on: 17 Nov 2004 Posts: 2,976	Reply | Contact I wonder if your potatoes had enough water, Sandgrown. That could be the reason for them falling apart. When my pots have done this, I steam them instead of boiling and they don't fall apart that way.

• 11/07/2009 10:27 AM	In reply to
  Sandgrown Location: Kent Joined on: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 2	Reply | Contact Thanks Miranda. It has been very dry here for months so this could be the reason although I would be interested to hear of other's experience of growing Sharpe's Express. I will be lifting the third of my potato varieties, Charlotte, in a few weeks and fingers crossed that they will provide the means to make a potato salad!

• 14/07/2009 05:23 PM	In reply to
  debbielon Location: Maidstone Joined on: 24 Jun 2009 Posts: 8	Reply | Contact Hi Sandgrown we are also in Kent and pulled our Charlottes today and there is absolutely nothing on them. Hope you fair better with yours. Have put a post on here to see if we can find out why. I think it was dud seed stock myself. We planted three big rows of them.