Vales Emerald Potatoes.

Hi everyone.

We set 10 tubers of Vales Emerald as well as Maris Bard just for a change. We normally try to grow a few of the newer varieties to see how they perform. My husband dug a root to see if they were ready, so far so good. Lovely looking potatoes, nice and clean. Then I cooked them as I normally cook potatoes, with some springs of mint, to have with a salad for tea and what a disappointment. They were not nice at all. They broke up in the water, and tasted of absolutely nothing.

The Maris Bard we are growing are fine. Is the weather to blame?Have we left them too long before digging?

Your comments/advice would be appreciated, just pleased  we only planted 10 tubers.

I planted 4 tubers in a patio potato bag, my harvest was 8 golf size potatoes but they were yummy

Surprised they have no taste they are bred from Charlotte,one I've never tried.

Sharpes Express, Charlotte,Casablanca,Juliette are all nice tasting waxy salad spuds.

Try steaming instead of boiling,won't improve the taste I'm afraid

Not tried Vales Emerald but have tried Charlotte, grew them for a couple of years and they cooked the same,skins came off and they tasted watery and bland. 

Currently eating red duke of york, excellent mashed, the skins rub off, they cook well and taste wonderful.   

Thanks for your replies and advice.

We have grown Charlotte in the past and they have been fine.

We just like to grow a few of a variety we have no previously tried in case we find one we like for the next year, there are so many new ones,it mind boggling. I think I will try to get some seed to grow some for Christmas maybe Juliette or Casablanca. Think I will try some roasted with garlic and rosemary for tea tonight, might add a bit of flavour and keep their shape!.

Thanks once again. Have a nice day

PS It's raining again

 Just watched Monty Don on GW  and the results of his potato trials. He has had the same problem with both taste and the potato breaking up when cooking that I had, so I can almost certainly say it is too much water that has caused the problem with the Vales Emerald  The Maris Bard are fine, so we have some ' new potatoes' that taste and cook like they should. I think we will stick with them in the future!!.

I too watched Monty last night - nice to see his efforts get the same rewards as everyone elses! I'm growing Charlottes and these are breaking up when cooked. I grew Vales Emerald last year in a large bag and they were lovely - good taste and relatively good yield from only 5 tubers.

Hi, I think that the season we are having that is to blame and perhaps I might try them again, but when you only have limited amount of land you do want to be as sure as you can that you get a crop you can eat. I roasted them with Rosemary and garlic and they were OK but I really like new potatoes boiled or steamed with a knob of butter!!

Thanks for your interest everyone. I'm sure that with this funny season other people will have had the same problems. Bye for now, off to enjoy the sunshine.