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Late Season Potato Varieties

februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
in Fruit & veg
So, growing veg in containers for the first time this year and will be harvesting my Swift potatoes this weekend (all being well). I was going to sow a second lot of carrots (although haven't started the first yet, another weekend job) but I'm thinking I'd actually prefer to go for some more potatoes to harvest later in the year. What are people's late season variety recommendations?

Posts

  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    I'm no expert, but the main crop 'Desiree' has always done well for me and is also one favoured by commercial growers I believe.  See what others say?
  • verliejlewisQ6uBEGpsverliejlewisQ6uBEGps Posts: 1
    If you're looking for late-season potato varieties, I'd recommend considering Maris Piper, King Edward, and Desiree. Maris Piper is versatile and offers a good yield, while King Edward is fluffy and ideal for baking or roasting. Desiree potatoes are known for their exceptional flavor and can be used for various culinary purposes. Happy gardening and enjoy your bountiful harvest!

  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    Late potatoes are ones that need a long season, they are already planted. You can probably plant some more early types and get a crop if you can find any seed potatoes.
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    Thanks for the suggestions 😊

    @Skandi Finding them isn't a problem, I got my first two lots (I also have Orla growing) from https://www.potatohouse.co.uk/ 
  • InTheMoorlandsInTheMoorlands Posts: 161
    februarysgirl said:
    So, growing veg in containers for the first time this year and will be harvesting my Swift potatoes this weekend (all being well). I was going to sow a second lot of carrots (although haven't started the first yet, another weekend job) but I'm thinking I'd actually prefer to go for some more potatoes to harvest later in the year. What are people's late season variety recommendations?

    When did you put your potatoes in?  I put mine in the first week in April and reckon it will be another month before they can be harvested.  I usually (just about) get two lots of potatoes in the summer but don't think that will be possible this year.

    A few weeks ago Gardeners World said that the summer growing season was reduced by about six weeks due to a late and coldish spring.  Certainly has with me.
    At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines.  Clay soil.  
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    @InTheMoorlands I put mine in on 9th April. The foliage was starting to die off so I figured it'd be a good time to harvest them. Emptied out the container this morning and got these out of it.



    They look bigger in the photo than they do in real life, but they're mostly the kind of size I'd expect from a new potato. I also have a container of Orla that I planted a week later and I'll be waiting for the foliage to start to die off before harvesting them. At the moment they're still very lush, green and upright so I don't anticipate harvesting them for a while yet.

    I have to confess, I don't actually watch Gardener's World 🤭
  • InTheMoorlandsInTheMoorlands Posts: 161
    Hi februarysgirl

    So you put your potatoes in at the same time as me!  These are mine today:


    They were so late in coming through that i was on the point of taking them up mid-May.  We were still getting frosts at the end of May!

    What's the climate like where you are?  Certainly sounds better than here.
    At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines.  Clay soil.  
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    @InTheMoorlands I'm in Leicester and the last frost we had was late April. It definitely helps that my garden's south facing as well. I gave leftover chitted potatoes to my OH's mum but her garden is north facing and her potatoes aren't as far along as mine.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    As @Skandi, says the difference between early, 2nd and main crop is the length of time they take to mature
     The timings are roughly 12-14 weeks early s up to 18-20 for main crop.  For a late planting I would go for a "second early " such as Charlotte and pray there is no late blight, for a normal late crop I always go for a blight resistant one such as Sarpo Mira  now, but this would take too long  to mature now,  unless we have a very mild autumn. 
    AB Still learning

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