Description
Desiree seed potatoes are a popular choice amongst many celebrity chefs including Delia Smith and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, due to their potential to make fantastic roast potatoes. They produce oval, red skinned tubers with pale yellow flesh. They have a firm cooked texture with a medium dry matter. Excellent for roasting, boiling, frying and mashing.
Desiree is a heavy cropper and early bulking with high resistance to drought and good resistance to potato virus Y and powdery-scab
Maincrop seed potatoes mature in 125-140 days and, if planted in late April, can be harvested by mid August.
SOIL PREPARATION:
Ideal soil conditions for growing potatoes are sandy loam soils which can be enriched with lots of organic matter to aid water retention and provide suitable feeding for you potatoes.
Heavy clay soils can be improved by adding sharp sand and lots of organic matter in the autumn of the year so that the new soil mixture can be exposed to frost which will help break up the soil structure and make it easier to work with.
If you are unable to get organic matter you can add compost to the area you wish to plant your potatoes in.
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS:
Each potato should be 25cm from the next, with rows spaced 60cm apart. Always make sure the eyes are facing upwards. Drills should be 15cm deep.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS:
Water well in dry spells.
HARVESTING INSTRUCTIONS:
Harvest June-July. Dig up mature potatoes and store them in a cool, dry and dark location. Potatoes can be stored for several months. Tip: when harvesting, remove all foliage and small potatoes from the soil and discard, to avoid diseases on next year’s crop.
Plant as soon as possible after purchase. Keep in a dry, cool and well-ventilated place until planting. Keep free from frost.
Grown from cultivated stock.
