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‘ Desiree ’ potatoes are one of the most popular potato varieties for home raiser in England and Wales .
It is a cultivar of red - skinned potato ( Solanum tuberosum ) usually used as the main - harvest and is extremely prise by gardener andallotment holders .
Chitted desiree potatoes in a garden trench
The plant is of medium height , and can straggle a niggling later on in its growing cycle ; the blossom are blood-red - purple , fading to white .
Overview
PreferredFull Sun / Light Shade
ExposureExposed or Sheltered
Height0.5 – 1 M
Spread0.5 – 1 M
Bloom TimeJune – August
PreferredMost Soil Types
MoistureMoist but well drained
pHNeutral / slenderly Acidic
The Tuber themselves are fair large if left to suppurate to full size as a maincrop Solanum tuberosum , but they can also be harvested a little early for an other maincrop if want .
Desiree Pros
One of the independent benefits of Desiree potatoes is that they have jolly good resistance to drought .
This mean that they can be a good choice where water is short in summer , or where it is more difficult to ensure adequate irrigation or water system as oftentimes as you should .
Another good thing about Desiree potatoes is that they have pretty dependable disease resistance .
Chitted desiree potatoes in a garden trench
This cultivar is immune to problems that can blight other varieties , such as tater wart and skin spot – and it also has good resistance againsttuber late blight .
Another thing that many people like about this potato sort is that it is a clean waxy potato , which has a lot of versatility in the kitchen .
It can be used for grind , for splintering , for roasting , and in a stove of other ways .
“ I ca n’t grow ‘ Desiree ’ as it crop too late for my blight - prone garden , despite its greater resistance than other cultivars , ” deal Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly .
“ However , I would love to be capable to due to it being a tasty all - libertine in the kitchen . ”
Desiree Cons
While in general , the disease resistance of Desiree potatoes is better than many other change of potato , it is worthwhile noting that it can still meet problems .
Though the genus Tuber are generally fairly resistant to late blight , the foliage can be affect ; leaf roll can also be a problem .
And this is not a potato which is resistant to coarse blackleg – so may not be the best variety to grow if this is a particular trouble in your garden .
It also has a weakness to eelworms and potato cyst roundworm .
One very important affair to note is that while this can be a great option for nurseryman in most of England and Wales , it does not do well in Scotland .
When grown in Scotland ( where I endure ) the tubers can be watery and savourless and yield very unsatisfying results .
If you populate further northward , or in a wetting agent area , you will belike be better off opt for a dissimilar variety .
Where To Find Them
If you do decide that Desiree white potato are the correct option for you , you should happen that you have no difficultness at all in getting your hands on some expert - lineament source potatoes .
The popularity of this variety means that they are widely usable in garden centres , online , and in other stores .
Often , you could even find steal seed Irish potato of this type in low-cost supermarket stores .
However , for dear results , you should seek to find seed supplier from a demonstrate , reputable supplier , so you know where they amount from , and that they are pest and disease - destitute .
If you grease one’s palms from a reputable supplier , you should get around 10 - 11 good - sized seed potatoes in one 1 kg dish .
Where To Grow
Desiree potatoes can be grown in the ground or in container , wherever other potatoes could be grown .
They will flourish in any soil which is fertile , moist yet fairly free draining , with plenty of constituent matter – and will do best in full sun .
Potatoes will do well in any soil with a moderate pH , but do best in slenderly acidic territory .
Planting Guidelines
Desiree potatoes , like other potato , can be chitted ( left to form unripened shoot ) before planting , though notion differ on on the nose how much divergence this get .
This smorgasbord is usually chitted from around the second half of February and then set out less than a month before the last frost particular date in your region .
For most , the best time to plant outdoors will be previous March or early April .
Desiree Plant Care
Care for Desiree potatoes does not differ from that of other potato .
You should keep the plants watered during dry periods if potential ( though as mark above , this sort does have fair good drought opposition ) .
You should control that the planting area is productive , and that you take steps to defend natality over time .
It is a good idea to look at not only which white potato assortment you will acquire , but also which plant you will choose as companion industrial plant for your Irish potato .
Companion planting is a dandy idea in an organic garden and can aid you find gamey yields .
Some fellow traveller plants to consider include horseradish , garlic , onions orother Allium , peasorbeansfor nitrogen fixation , Petroselinum crispum , sage , thymeand other aromatic herbaceous plant , and flowers likemarigolds , Borago officinalis etc .
For the highest yields , we would also commend that youadopt a no - dig horticulture approach , andmulch wellaround your potato plant life .
potato in a no - dig garden bottom are much easy to harvest .
Mulch can be used as an choice to earthing up around white potato vine in the more traditional manner .
Comfrey result make an excellent mulch for potato plants , for example .
A comfrey liquid state feed can also be beneficial , while I have also determine that mulch with seaweed yields fantabulous results .
Though you should use natural mulch textile which are readily useable in your sphere .
Harvesting
Desiree spud should be ready for harvest from around 16 - 18 weeks after they were implant .
you’re able to expect these potatoes to be ready to harvest around the end of July , though this can variegate considerably depending on conditions each yr .
check that youstore your potatoes properlyto get the most out of your harvest .
recall , Desiree potatoes are not the only option to deal – there are plenitude of other interesting and various potato varieties to prove .
For gardeners in most of England and Wales , they are certainly a good option to consider .
