Gardian Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 I want to have a go at growing some 'first earlies' this year and a Jersey Royal type variety would be ideal.Would I be right in thinking that Jerseys are a variety 'jealously guarded' by the Channel Island growers and only grown there commercially, a bit like Champagne for the Champennois? Or are they in fact just one of the many varieties generally available that happen to be grown there?Whatever, I'm not going to find any such seed potatoes for sale down here. Any suggestions as to a good variety? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Riff-Raff Element Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 Belle de Fontenay. Fantastic flavour, very early. I'm not sure in my own mind that they aren't the same variety as that marketed as "Jersey Royal" but I would be happy to be corrected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted January 18, 2008 Author Share Posted January 18, 2008 Jon ...........Well, I actually bought a small tray of Fontenay on the market the other day - the bloke told me that they were 'earlies'. When I got back, I looked them up in my reference book and it said that they were 'early maincrop' (hence the question), but I guess that it all rather depends on when you plant them. Down here, we're frost-free from end-Feb, so they'll be in within the next 4-5 wks.Anyway, thanks. Sounds like I picked a guddun, even if only by chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooky Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 They are also called International.A Jersey is not a Jersey if not grown there it is the soil there that makes it a jersey.A similar potato that can be brought in France is the Isle Noirmoutier. Vey yummy ; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisb Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 Mail order catalogues offer International Kidney and Royal Kidney which seem virtually indistinguishable to me. I must try growing the Noirmoutier - have bought them to eat and agree that they're delicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 [quote user="mooky"]They are also called International.A Jersey is not a Jersey if not grown there it is the soil there that makes it a jersey.A similar potato that can be brought in France is the Isle Noirmoutier. Vey yummy ;[/quote]Like Champagne then![:)]Ile de Ré new potatoes are good too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Riff-Raff Element Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 [quote user="Gardian"]Jon ...........Well, I actually bought a small tray of Fontenay on the market the other day - the bloke told me that they were 'earlies'. When I got back, I looked them up in my reference book and it said that they were 'early maincrop' (hence the question), but I guess that it all rather depends on when you plant them. Down here, we're frost-free from end-Feb, so they'll be in within the next 4-5 wks.Anyway, thanks. Sounds like I picked a guddun, even if only by chance. [/quote]I put my Belles in on or about March 17th, my middle daughter's birthday AND St Patrick's day. He probably isn't, but I always think of St Patrick as being the patron saint of potatoes being as they once were the staple food for much of the population of Ireland.This is possibly a little anorak, but there is a terribly good book called "The Potato" by a bloke called Larry Zuckerman which I would recommend to anyone remotely interested in the devine tuber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisb Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 2008 is actually the International Year of the Potato - which for some reason doesn't seem to had much media coverage...http://www.potato2008.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loiseau Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 The Noirmoutier potato is actually a variety called "Bonnotte"; the website also gives some other varieties that I had not heard of before.Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooky Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 www.jerseyroyalpotatopost.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted January 20, 2008 Author Share Posted January 20, 2008 Thanks for all the info folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llwyncelyn Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Jersey Potato post no longer do them. They are available from Home Grown Farm people on the Island. I have four packs being delivered to me next week.They are in reality grown both under cover and on seaweed on the Island.rdgs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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