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Desiree Potatoes

Jude@42Jude@42 Posts: 8
in Fruit & veg
As a fairly new allotmenteer I grew Desiree and Charlotte potatoes last year.  The Charlotte were excellent but the Desiree, although grew well, do not make good chips or roast potatoes.  They are only good for mash, stews or saute.  Any tips?
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  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Different potato varieties respond differently to local soil and growing conditions, especially the amount of water they get at certain times and last year's weather was a poor one in general for potatoes.  My advice is to stick with Charlotte for your 'salad' type but try a different maincrop variety next year, which may give better results at your site.  It took me many years of trying different varieties until I found ones which grew well here and provided the culinary qualities I prefer.  If I moved to a new area, first thing I'd do would be plant small quantities of several varieties, to quickly find the best performers. ;)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    If you allow Charlottes to grow on past the salad size they make good roasters. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I do the same with Kestrel, Dove.  They also become a pretty good all-rounder when left 'til the haulms die off and I think I prefer slightly 'waxy' potato types anyway.  Burrowing slugs a big problem here but Kestrel always untouched. :)  
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    👍 😊 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ColinAColinA Posts: 392
    I grow Desiree every year and find they are good for all types of cooking, but during the hot weather i am having to water every day otherwise i get a poor crop.
    I always take out a trench when planting and put in a good amount of well rotted manure to feed and conserve moisture, and throw several hand fulls of chicken manure pellets into the trench before refilling
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    I grow Desire every year in my soil they grow to taste beautiful in fact I have just eaten a delicious prawn salad with baked potato (Desiree of course), Christmas dinner with Desiree roast Potatoes yum yum, I wouldn't grow any other maincrop although they are classed as (early maincrop) which I think is Ideal in years where late blight might be an issue.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Where are you manners ladies and gentlemen??
    @Jude@42 is a first time poster.
    Welcome to the Forum.
    Devon.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    If you want good roasters, I suggest the blight resistant variety, Blue Danube. Bred by the Sarpo institute, it does well even in a wet, blight ridden year. My sister in Law did well with it in Wet Wales, near to Snowdon.
  • RoyHRoyH Posts: 6
    edited January 2020
    For chips the old stand by was Maris Piper but there are newer varieties out there that make good chips e.g. Markies. (If you can find them) A farmer friend of mine who grew tates for McCains gave me some "Innovators" to try. Ooh they made lovely chips!
  • Jude@42Jude@42 Posts: 8
    Thanks for that, I shall look into getting some of these varieties.

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