Growing Heritage Seed Potatoes

Growing Heritage Seed Potatoes

Posted on 18. Feb, 2010 by Tracey in How to Grow Veg

My project this year in my vegetable garden is to grow heritage seed varieties. Why? well something draws me to old and unusual seeds, I think its the adventurer inside me trying to go on a quest once more to find out the stories behind the vegetable varieties. After growing vegetables for 3 years now, I feel I want to know more about the traditional varieties that were once on offer which are loosing interest in the mass market. Going along with my heritage theme, I’m also planting heritage seed potatoes in pots bought from SowVegetables.co.uk

What is a Heritage Potato?
A heritage seed potato is one which has been bred in the 19th century to mid 20th century.

Are Heritage Potatoes rare?
Heritage potatoes are grown on a smaller scale. They are available through specialist farm shops or online.

Heritage Seed Potatoes I’ll be Growing in 2010 are:

1. International Kidney

International Kidney

International Kidney

Type: Heritage,
Year Introduced: 1879
Type: First Earlies
Shape: Kidney shaped
Colour: Cream
Flesh: White
Waxy / Floury: Waxy and Floury
Alternative Name: Jersey Royal’s (they can only be called jersey royals when they have been grown in Jersey soil).
Culinary: Boiled, Salad.
International Kidney Planting Months:
Plant out: March
Harvest: August

2. Pink Fir Apple

Pink Fir Apple

Pink Fir Apple

Type: Heritage,
Year Introduced: 1850, imported from France.
Type: Salad Late Maincrop
Shape: Long and knobbly
Colour: Reddy Pink
Flesh: Yellow
Waxy / Floury: Waxy
Flavour: Nutty, flavour gets better with storage
Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
Culinary: Chips, Boiled, Salad.
Pink Fir Apple Planting Months:
Plant out: March to April
Harvest: September to October

Other Heritage Seed Potatoes that you could be growing this year:

Have you grown any of these unusual varieties? What did they taste like?

Other Posts you may be interested in:

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4 Responses to “Growing Heritage Seed Potatoes”

  1. nic @ nipitinthebud

    18. Feb, 2010

    Hi Tracey, when I finally get round to writing up my 10 seed potato recommendations from Spud McQueen http://nipitinthebud.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/king-of-the-spuds/ it will include British Queen, Red Duke of York and Epicure. They are chitting beautifully in their egg box homes at present :o

  2. Tracey

    20. Feb, 2010

    Hi Nic,
    When you’ve finished writing your potato reviews, send me a comment or use the contact me link and I’ll add a link next to the variety on this post so others can read your reviews.
    I’m interested to see how your varieties grow especially Red Duke of York, I do like red potatoes, I grew Desiree a few years back and they looked great when I dug them up!

    Thanks
    Tracey

  3. Mal

    24. Feb, 2010

    Hi Tracey I’ve grown a few of these over the years. The ones I grew just last year can be seen at:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41673094@N08/3834967266/?rotated=1&cb=1250630573363

    Some are so popular I wouldn’t call them ‘heritage’ anymore (eg Duke of York and Pink Fir Apple) Edzell Blues are excellent but the skill is to stop them cooking before they turn into a mush. Reputedly this was the test given to scottish cooks in times past…

  4. nic @ nipitinthebud

    27. Mar, 2010

    phew, a month or mo later and I’ve finally sorted out all my pics and posted about the spuds I’ll be growing this year (gulp 13 varieties!). I’m very excited about the purple varieties.
    http://nipitinthebud.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/one-potato-two-potato/

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