After reading about the huge yields I was expecting the container to be full to overflowing with potatoes but it certainly didn't look that way on first inspection.
After scrabbling about in the compost we managed to unearth just fourteen usable potatoes from the first container.
Okay, better luck second time around?
Slightly better first impressions.
Unfortunately, no better overall results. Twenty one potatoes from three tubers in the second container, so each container yielded just seven potatoes per planted tuber.
How about the taste test? I meant to take a photo after they'd been cooked but I forgot and there weren't any left on the plates afterwards, they were a big hit. They held together extremely well on cooking and they tasted delicious, so much so that Eleanor's told me she shall be growing this variety when she gets her own place, not that she's moving out anytime soon, but it's always good to have plans.
Perhaps the weather conditions haven't been so good for potatoes this year, I don't know, but I was disappointed with the yield. The taste has encouraged me to give them another try in the future.
I wonder if you can feed potatoes like flowers to get better yields? just a thought.
ReplyDeleteBriony
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Yes, you can. I've been feeding them but it doesn't seem to have made much difference.
DeleteNot too bad. I think I might try growing some potatoes next year. X
ReplyDeleteI think you can taste the difference between home grown and shop bought potatoes, and the difference between varieties is very noticeable too. It's definitely worth growing your own and experimenting with different varieties to see which ones you like.
DeleteMost of my salad items have not come to much this year, but the berries have been fantastic.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame about your salad crops but there's always things which do well and some not so well each year. My fruit bushes and trees have done really well this year.
DeleteThey may be small but those potatoes are beauties ! The first thing I noticed about your photos were the soil. Your soul is lovely. Very rich. My soul in Michigan looked like that but not where I am now. No matter how much you work it the clay takes over which chokes out many plants. I'm happy your potatoes were yummy.
ReplyDeleteThis compost is bought in, that's why it looks so good. Clay soil takes such a lot of work to improve, sometimes it's just easier to build raised beds.
DeleteHi Jo-I think the yield might be related to the size of the container(s) they are in. They do need 'growing' room and somehow the plant senses that it is confined. Planted in an actual garden spot outside you might get a bigger yield....just the little bit I know from farming and may not be accurate. lol xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThey were grown in purpose made potato bags, which are quite a size, and they've been used previously with good results so I don't think the yield is down to the container size on this occasion.
DeleteShame about the yield but that apart they look and sound like a good variety, and worth growing again. xx
ReplyDeleteI can't fault the taste so I think it's definitely worth giving this variety another go. Two strikes and they're out though.
Delete"Under the weather"...
ReplyDeleteGentle hugs...
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I don't think the weather conditions have done them any favours this year.
DeleteYes, a shame about the yield, but full marks for taste.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I'll give them a second chance and try them again, the taste is worth it.
DeleteWell done, as your weather conditions haven't been good for some fruit & veg, but if they tasted great, next year may be better. Take care.
ReplyDeleteYou never get everything performing well. Weather conditions which are good for one crop are not so good for others.
DeleteThat is very disappointing! Glad they tasted good tho'. I find that the quality of the seed potatoes can effect the yield, I stopped buying them from one local garden centre as I consistently got poor yields from their seed potatoes.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of that. I've used Wilkos for seed potatoes in the past though and they've performed well. I'll give Jazzy another go.
Delete2 years ago was the last time we grew potatoes. We grew Desiree and we had so many we were giving the away. We grew them in a bed and they had a lot of room. My post of July 2017 you can see how well they did. We used organic soil, but whether this made a difference or not I don't know. Best, Jane x
ReplyDeleteWhen we had the allotment I only grew potatoes a few times in the ground as they were always damaged by pests. I've found that they come out much cleaner and damage free when grown in containers.
DeleteAwwww. New crops mean lots for us to learn!!! Im accidentally having a pumpkin!
ReplyDeletePumpkins are big plants. You'll be carving Jack O Lanterns this year then.
DeleteI agree, anything's a bonus when they're home grown and taste good. There are some really ugly tomatoes, aren't there? The ugliest are usually the tastiest though.
ReplyDeleteI've not tried this variety. The community garden have grown Aran Pilot this year and have had great yields.
ReplyDeleteI've grown Arran Pilot many years in the past, it's a favourite.
DeleteThank you!
ReplyDelete"Under the weather"
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You're welcome.
DeleteIt's always satisfying to sit and eat something you've grown yourself. It's a shame the yield wasn't as big as expected, but still, they obviously went down well. :)
ReplyDeleteThey went down very well, so much so that I'll give them another try, even though I was disappointed with the yield.
DeleteThst's not too bad, at least they are a reasonable size and if they're a hit with the customers that's the main thing. We must dig ours up.
ReplyDeleteThey have grown to a decent size, I suppose that's because I left them longer than I usually would. I must admit that I prefer them a little smaller. I'll give them another try and see what happens next time round.
DeleteThat's a bit disappointing but at least they tasted good, we don't eat a lot of potatoes so I would probably end up giving them away if I grew any. I'm not very happy with my tomatoes, even though I've looked after them this time, I don't know if what is on there is going to reden up at all! It's all a bit hit and miss this growing malarkey isn't it, lol
ReplyDeleteGrowing your own can be very hit and miss. This year both my potatoes and tomatoes aren't as good as I'd have hoped, yet the fruit from the bushes and trees in the garden have done very well indeed. I don't think there's ever a year where everything does well.
DeleteWe enjoyed the taste of Jazzy too. Ours did well to say that they suffered a setback when we thought the plants were dying off at one point,
ReplyDeleteI was very impressed with the taste. I'm definitely going to give them another go to see if I can get a better yield than I have this year, it was quite disappointing.
DeleteWell at least they tasted good! We tried potatoes in a container last year, we had lots of growth but after the die back there was absolutely nothing there, just roots and soil. We kept to peppers, chillies, toms and cucumbers again this year xcx
ReplyDeleteI have mixed results with potatoes in containers, though I'm always pleased with the condition they come out in, no damage whatsoever. I'll give this variety another try.
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