I’ve grown three varieties of blight resistant potatoes this year, Sarpo Mira, which I’ve grown for years, Carolus and Athlete. I was interested that the Athlete has far out-performed the other two. Nearly all were of a good usable size and very few were invaded by slugs. When I’d sorted all three varieties into immediate use, slightly damaged and perfect, there were at least twice as many Athlete as Carolus and probably three times as many as Sarpo Mira. They also seem to be good baking potatoes.
I shall definitely hope to grow Athlete again.
Janet G

On 3 Oct 2017 02:37, Janet G wrote:
I've grown three varieties of blight resistant potatoes this year, Sarpo Mira, which I've grown for years, Carolus and Athlete. I was interested that the Athlete has far out-performed the other two. Nearly all were of a good usable size and very few were invaded by slugs. When I'd sorted all three varieties into immediate use, slightly damaged and perfect, the
re were at least twice as many Athlete as Carolus and probably three times as many as Sarpo Mira. They also seem to be good baking potatoes.
I shall definitely hope to grow Athlete again.

We grew Sarpo Mira and Kifli and also Mozart.
Both the Mira and Kifli have grown tubers a bit grotesque but large,
very large. Mira has also suffered with scab. The Mozart are lovely
tubers, clean and smooth skinned and although the plants got the
Blight the tubers didn't. Turns out their tubers are blight resistant
although the hulms aren't.
Little slug damage this year, must be that mushroom compost we used.


--
Regards
Bob Hobden

On 03/10/2017 10:37, Janet G wrote:

I’ve grown three varieties of blight resistant potatoes this year,
Sarpo Mira, which I’ve grown for years, Carolus and Athlete. I was
interested that the Athlete has far out-performed the other two.

How do they taste?
What is the nearest comparable common variety in taste and texture.
High yield of mushy cardboard flavoured spuds isn't all that appealing.

Nearly all were of a good usable size and very few were invaded by
slugs. When I’d sorted all three varieties into immediate use,
slightly damaged and perfect, there were at least twice as many
Athlete as Carolus and probably three times as many as Sarpo Mira.
They also seem to be good baking potatoes. I shall definitely hope to
grow Athlete again. Janet G

Do they pass the taste and texture test? And how well do they keep?

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

I can’t yet vouch for the keeping qualities, of course. Much of the foliage got blight but the tubers seem to be sound.
Taste wise I rate them highly, far superior to Sarpo Mira which I find acceptable but no more. The regular shape and size I find appealing, especially for baking. Less important, I like its appearance. It has pinkish eyes, a little like Kestrel though less marked.
Janet G

On 04/10/2017 06:43, Janet G wrote:
I can’t yet vouch for the keeping qualities, of course. Much of the foliage got blight but the tubers seem to be sound.
Taste wise I rate them highly, far superior to Sarpo Mira which I find acceptable but no more. The regular shape and size I find appealing, especially for baking. Less important, I like its appearance. It has pinkish eyes, a little like Kestrel though less marked.
Janet G


Would anyone recommend to a complete beginner a fairly blight and bug
resistant potato, with the creamy type texture (something a bit like
Jersey potatoes) Thanks

On 06/10/2017 13:51, john.west wrote:
On 04/10/2017 06:43, Janet G wrote:
I can’t yet vouch for the keeping qualities, of course. Much of the
foliage got blight but the tubers seem to be sound.
Taste wise I rate them highly, far superior to Sarpo Mira which I find
acceptable but no more. The regular shape and size I find appealing,
especially for baking. Less important, I like its appearance. It has
pinkish eyes, a little like Kestrel though less marked.


Would anyone recommend to a complete beginner a fairly blight and bug
resistant potato, with the creamy type texture (something a bit like
Jersey potatoes)Â* Thanks

Unless you know you have a local blight problem spuds are fairly easy to
grow. This year nothing of mine got blight at all and I didn't treat.
Bit of a surprise as it has been very damp but not so warm I suppose.

It is the recommended crop for breaking in new ground. They can pretty
much take care of themselves provided they don't get blighted.

I reckon we would consider them a pernicious weed if the tubers were not
edible. Not quite as bad as ground elder or bindweed but close in terms
of missing a few pea sized spudlets will give you new plants next year.

I always end up with some volunteers growing in last years compost heap
often with a decent crop on them too. My compost is good stuff.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown