Main crop potatoes

Choosing the best varieties for organic production has to be one of the first decisions to make. We can help you make that decision by discussing certain issues such as your intended market place, soil type and facilities.

Sante

Historically Sante has been the most successful organic variety. It has a good all round disease resistance and a ruggedness that helps it to perform well under most growing conditions. It is still the biggest seller amongst all other varieties grown organically in the UK. Its high dry matter gives it a processing potential. View Agronomic Data Sheet (PDF)

Agria

Maincrop. Processing variety suitable for organic chips, but can double as general ware. Large tubers, high dry matter. Good bligh resistance. This is the most widely used variety in Europe for organic processing. For farmers that cannot achieve good skin quality, this variety has to offer great potential as it can achive goods yields in a market that does not need good skin quality. View Agronomic Data Sheet (PDF)

Markies

New - Markies has been very successful in the conventional chip sector with qualities that should suit organic production. It is a later maturing main crop with good natural blight resistance and only small requirement for nitrogen. Markies will offer good opportunities to those that get on well with varieties such as Valor and Cara. When fried it will not absorb much oil thus offering more healthy nourishment. View Agronomic Data Sheet (PDF)

Raja

Red skin maincrop which has performed well on the prepack market. Produces high yields and good blight resistance. Tubers are white fleshed and oval. High dry matter gives it a processing option.

Kuroda

Kuroda is a red main crop with excellent blight resistance. Tubers are oval with yellow flesh. Firm flesh produces the classic Desiree type for eating. View Agronomic Data Sheet (PDF)

Desiree

Popular red skin variety well known for it's waxy texture and excellent flavour. Although not as easy to grow as some varieties, is still the most popular "red" with the consumer.

Cara

Very popular with organic farmers for it's blight resistance and good storability. Needs a long growing season to produce very high yields. Will benefit from chitting seed early. Can be prone to common scab. The tubers are parti-coloured with good cooking and eating qualities.

Valor

Valor is late maturing with white skin and flesh. It performed well in the 2007 infamous blight epidemic.