Various Kinds of Potatoes Explained
In the lush gardens of the UK, growing potatoes is a beloved pastime. With a wide variety of options available, gardeners can choose from three main types: first earlies, second earlies, and maincrop. Each type offers unique traits and harvesting times, ensuring a succession of fresh potatoes throughout the season.
First Earlies: Quick and Delicious
For those eager to enjoy their home-grown potatoes early, popular first early varieties include Red Duke of York, Caledonian Pearl, Pentland Javelin, Sharpes Express, Swift, Foremost, Casablanca, Maris Bard, Rocket, and the classic Duke of York. These varieties provide a quick, early crop typically harvested in late spring to early summer.
The Red Duke of York, for instance, is a large new potato with red skin and yellow flesh that boasts a floury texture. Another option, Rocket, is a Scottish first early potato with waxy, white flesh and good disease resistance. These early potatoes are often more expensive in shops and taste better when just harvested.
Maincrop: Harvested Later for Storage
Maincrop potatoes are well suited for the UK’s cool and wet climate, noted for their disease resistance and ability to produce high yields and good storage quality. Popular varieties include Maris Piper, King Edward, and Russet Burbank. These are ideal for baking, roasting, and mashing, and can be stored for a few months.
'Charlotte', a good all-rounder, makes a delicious salad potato and stores well. 'Maris Peer', a second early potato with yellow waxy flesh, is another option that is ready from July. Maincrop potatoes take the longest to mature and are harvested from late August to October.
Orla: A Versatile Tuber
Orla is a versatile tuber that can be left in the ground to mature as second early or maincrop, providing gardeners with an extended harvest period.
Second Earlies: A Mid-Season Treat
Second earlies, also called 'new' potatoes, are ready from July. 'Lady Christl' is a high-yielding waxy variety with medium, oval potatoes and good disease resistance.
Diversity in Flavor and Texture
Growing a mix of early and maincrop varieties allows for a variety in potato flavor and texture, ensuring a delightful culinary experience throughout the growing season. With over 5000 varieties of potatoes to choose from, there's a perfect potato for every UK garden.
Growing potatoes is easy - plant one seed potato, and you dig up lots of potatoes a few months later. Floury potato varieties are good for baking and mashing, whereas waxy potato varieties make good additions to a salad.
Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner, growing potatoes is a rewarding experience that offers a bounty of fresh, flavourful potatoes right in your backyard. So, get your hands dirty and embark on a potato-growing adventure today!
- For those who appreciate a diverse garden and home-cooked meals, growing both first earlies and maincrop potatoes can provide a range of flavors and textures throughout the season.
- In the UK, home-and-garden enthusiasts can incorporate gardening into their lifestyle by exploring various potato varieties, resulting in a delightful potato patch and fresh produce for their home.
