UK: Which is the hardiest variety of POTATO crop?

Question

Hi. If you grow potatoes and have knowledge of them, please could you tell me the hardiest variety to grow in the UK (North East England)? I mean hardiness in terms of resistance to adverse weather conditions such as drought and/or wet ground - I do understand that too much dryness or wet will ruin any crop, however I'm sure there's some potatoes better suited than others to cope with a little hardship in climate. Thank you.

Also, please could you tell me when your chosen variety would be planted and harvested. Thank you very much.

Answer 1

The two most popular potato varieties at present are Rooster and Kerr's Pink.  Other popular varieties are British Queens and Record.  I'm sure that they would also be hardy types or they would not be so popular.  Plant very early in the spring and harvest when the vines dry up.  You can harvest "new potatoes" or immature potatoes for your dinner table as soon as they start forming.

Answer 2

Hi, I am a Geordie, and my grandad, bless him, swore by King Edwards in the allotment.

Would not be doing with new-fangled things like Maris Piper.

He stuffed the seeded things in the muck around April, and hoiked out a goodly crop in September.

By seeded I mean that he would put the spuds in a hessian sack in March, until they all had green sprouts poking out.

We did try some French variety of baby new spuds, but as Fred said - "These are bloody useless. canna make nice chips outta the beggars"

Hey Ho !

Edwards then.

Bob.

Answer 3

I have personally found there is no type of potato that grows better than others. It's literally when you plant them and how you take care of them. Potatoes seem to be very resiliant in all weathers, ours have always been great regardless of the weather. It also depends on how large you are intending your crop to be. If you are talking a vegetable garden size caring for them is no problem but if you're thinking acres wise then that's a whole different issue especially with the weather. Regardless of type you will need some heavy duty kit to ensure your crop survives.

I have posted this link as it is the most informative on when to plant. Although it says Ireland this does not make any difference with the fact you live in the North-East.

http://www.gardenplansireland.com/forum/...

Answer 4

Red Rooster are my favourite variety for growing but I can recommend using water retaining gel crystals in your veggie patch.  I bought 1kg in a tub from Homebase for under a fiver and it seeded my whole veggie plot 2 1/2m x 2m square and keeps my watering needs to a minimum all summer.  Just drop a sprinkle of a few granules at the base of each potato/bulb/ seed trough when planting.  I use them in all my tubs and I have not had to water one of them yet and we havent had rain now for nearly 3 weeks!  This way, you can plant what you like but the plants will stay watered whatever the weather.  Also they stay in the soil and can be reused year after year, so you only need to top up each year.

Nessie

Answer 5

I do reluctantly grow potatos on my allotment, and I find white potatos are more often than not attacked by slugs and other boring insects. This means they are riddled with internal galleries, and not only can they not be stored, but it makes cutting out the "bad" bits a major chore.

However, when I grow red skinned varieties, they seem to be more resistant to being eaten by pests in the ground.

I don't pay much attention to names of varieties, but for me red skinned are the most hardy, in terms of surviving attack by pests.

Answer 6

The hardiest I know is called "Spunta".

Answer 7

there are lots  but the hardiest is spreed not many people know about this one  6% of people know this one in the whole world