POTATOES

  The worldwide potato crop was around 322 million metric tons in 2005. 

  China   75 million metric tons (23.3% of global potato production)

  Russia  37 million metric tons (11.5%)

  India    25 million metric tons (7.8%)

 - over 40% of global production -

  Ireland's potato crop was 375 thousand metric tonnes in 2008

                                   Ireland's consumption per capita is 120 kg whereas in Italy it is 30 kg.

                                   There are 25,000 acres devoted to potatoes in Ireland

                                   Potatoes are the world's most widely grown tuber crop, and the fourth largest

                                   crop in terms of fresh produce - after rice, wheat, and maize ('corn').

OVERVIEW

At Fruit Hill Farm we offer a range of potatoes to suit every taste.  Our varieties have been chosen with care to offer you the grower the widest choice of Organic Seed.
To be on this list the variety must have a reputation for disease resistance and strong growth.  A strong plant with some degree of blight resistance will mean less need for spraying.
There is no such thing as the perfect potato.  If a variety doesn't get blight it might get blackleg or scab.  It is therefore worthwhile to grow a few varieties to be certain of the best crop. 

Growing Instructions

After purchase chit (sprout) the potatoes.  Place the seed in a shallow tray with any shoots facing upwards.  Put the tray in a cool, light place protected from frost.  Soon the seed potatoes will produce strong sprouts.  Plant into warm, fertilised soil  (or large pots) once the risk of frost has passed. Plant 10cm deep and 25cm apart with the shoots facing upwards. Leave 60cm between each row.  Ideally First Earlies should be planted in March/April and all others in April/May.  When growth is about 20cm tall pile up the soil around them (earthing up).  This will prevent light getting to the tubers (they can go green if this happens) and will create better drainage and give the plant more room to grow.

Harvesting

Earlies are best harvested in small quantities, when the first flowers appear.  Cook immediately so that the flavour is retained. Main Crop are best lifted once the foliage has died back in the autumn.

Plant Health

A healthy potato plant is much more able to withstand poor weather conditions and attacks from disease carrying spores. Liquid Seaweed , Liquid Garlic or Vitanal can be used to strengthen the crop. Homemade sprays like liquid nettle or comfrey manure are equally useful. Spray regularly at least three times at different (early!) growth stages.
Copper Sprays can also be used against blight (acceptable under organic standards are 8kg copper/ ha/season)

The Potatoes - Certified Organic and Disease free

Colleen      1st early
                             
Good resistance to tuber blight, potato virus and scab.
Oval tuber, light yellow skin, yellow flesh 
A fairly waxy potato that fries well
Quite versatile in the kitchen. The earliest Early
Available for protected planting from December on

           
Orla           1st early/maincrop

Strong plants.  Highest blight resistance first early. 
Well able to fight off scab and potato virus Good sized oval tubers. 
Very clean cream coloured skin.
Excellent eater, Good general purpose potato.  
Can be left in as a maincrop.
Available for protected planting from December on


British Queens  2nd early                             

Reasonable blight, virus and scab resistance.
Short oval tubers, creamy skin and flesh  
Superb flavour and floury texture.

Marris Peer    2nd early/salad    

Medium blight ans virus resistance.  Good scab resistance.
Oval shaped equal sized tubers.  Cream skin and flesh
Firm texture and intense potato taste.  Excellent salad/boiling potato.

Sante             Maincrop - early    
            
Very high blight, virus and scab resistance.
Also resistant to white and golden eelworm.
Round equal medium sized tubers with cream coloured flesh.  
Very tasty, floury to firm potato.  Good multi-purpose spud


Robinta         Maincrop - early 

Very good blight and scab resistance.
Some eelworm resistance
Red oval tubers creamy flesh. 
Excellent yields, reliable cropper.  
A delicious potato for baking and cooking. 
Medium firm to floury, never disappointing. 

Record       Maincrop     

Medium blight and virus resistance.  Susceptible to eelworm.                          
Oval cream coloured tubers.  Light yellow flesh
Classic floury potato with great flavour.  Very tasty roasted 

Remarka       Maincrop
                                 
Very strong against blight and virus as well as scab.
Big oval tubers.  Creamy skin, light yellow flesh.  High yield.
The large tubers cook well particularily good for baking.
 Fine flavour. Firm to mealy cooking.  Excellent family potato

Setanta       Maincrop                                

New Irish potato.  Very good blight and scab resistance.
Red oval tubers, medium yellow flesh, high yields.  
Real floury potato. Good eating qualities.
Ideal for baking or roasting.
 
Sarpo Axona  Maincrop
 
This is one of the Hungarian Sarpo varieties. 
High resistance against blight, virus and scab.
Vigorous growth suppresses weeds.Red, oval long tubers.
Cream coloured flesh, high yields.High dry matter content.
Floury potato with good taste.

Arran Victory   Maincrop - late                       

Moderate blight, virus and scab resistance. 
Tall weed suppressing foliage.
Attractive blue/purple tuber with white flesh. 
Good yield in long season 
A real gourmet potato.  Wonderful floury, mealy taste and texture.
One of the best mashing potatoes.  Goes well with butter!

Golden Wonder   Maincrop - late 
               
Medium blight and good scab resistance.
Red/brown long oval tubers.  Cream coloured flesh  
Dry and floury.  Unbeatable for roasting and baking.
Best after maturing in storage.

Sarpo Mira         Maincrop - late                     

Blight resistant.  Good as well against virus and scab.
Large red oval tubers.  High yields.  Benefits from late harvest. 
Good all-rounder.  High dry matter, very good for chips and roasting.

Cara                   Maincrop - late                      
Good blight, virus and disease resistance.
Has high drought resistance.
Uniform oval white tubers with red eyes, cream flesh.
Reliable cropper with good yields, excellent storage.   
Universal table potato.
High dry matter - floury, suitable for roasting and mashing. 
A good all-rounder.

  Sarpo Mira Flower

  As all soil is different so will be the resulting potato. Try a few varieties ( see our  seed  potato mix ) 'till you find the perfect  one for you. What is locally grown is normally a good guide. 
 
  You don't just want high yields - you  want  clean plates   in the kitchen!