Final Report for Trial No.2001 – Potato: Maincrop 2014 1

Potato – Main Crop Trial Report

2014

Trials Office, The Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB

Final Report for Trial No.2001 – Potato: Maincrop 2014 2

RHS Trial of Potato, Main Crop Introduction: There were 40 entries in the Trial submitted by various companies in the UK and Europe. The objectives of the trial were:

To assess a range of cultivars.

To recommend the Award of Garden Merit [AGM] to outstanding cultivars for garden use.

To demonstrate the cultivation of this crop. The trial was grown at Capel Manor College, Enfield, Greater London, and assessed for the

Award of Garden Merit (AGM) on 24 September 2014 by the RHS Vegetable Trials Assessment Forum. Cultivation:

Soil preparation including incorporation of organic matter was carried out in October and November 2013.

4 March 2014 - tubers were set up for chitting.

3 April 2014 – tubers were planted, 8 tubers per trial.

8 May 2014 – plants were earthed up.

Plants were sprayed with Bordeaux Mix on 2 July, 16 July and 5 August 2014.

20 August – haulms were cut back.

17 September – test dig of 1 plant per variety. Judging

The trial was assessed for the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) by the Vegetable Trials Assessment Forum on 24 September using the following criteria:

uniformity; yield; taste; appearance; resistance to pests and disease Recommendation for the Award of Garden Merit: The over-arching criteria for recommendation of plants for the RHS Award of Garden Merit

(AGM) are:

Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions

Available

Of good constitution

Essentially stable in form and colour

Reasonably resistant to pests and disease

Final Report for Trial No.2001 – Potato: Maincrop 2014 3

The Forum recommended the Society's AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT (H2) to:

Carolus [Trial No 6] Sent by Agrico UK Ltd, Castleton of Eassie, Glamis, Forfar, Angus, DD8 1SJ. Available from Thompson & Morgan; www.thompson-morgan.com Forum remarks: parti-colour skin, yellow flesh, oval tubers, good blight tolerance, an excellent cultivar and performed exceptionally in this trial as well as in the breeders trials. Bakes, roasts, chips and mashes well. Desiree [Trial No 8] Sent by and available from Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU; www.thompson-morgan.com Available from a wide range of suppliers. Forum remarks: red skin, light yellow flesh, oval tubers, still the world’s most popular red and is reliable.

Harmony (PBR) [Trial No 11] Sent by WCF-Phoenix, Cromwellstore, Almondbank, Perth, PH1 3GT. Available from Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU; www.thompson-morgan.com . Also available from Marshall Seeds; http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/ and JBA Seed Potatoes; http://www.jbaseedpotatoes.co.uk/ Forum remarks: white skin, white flesh, round tubers, yield not terrific but Showbench quality. A standard supermarket ‘white’ on occasions.

Final Report for Trial No.2001 – Potato: Maincrop 2014 4

Manitou [Trial No 17] Sent by Agrico UK Ltd, Castleton of Eassie, Glamis, Forfar, Angus, DD8 1SJ. Available from Thompson & Morgan; www.thompson-morgan.com Forum remarks: red skin, light yellow flesh, oval tubers, the new Desiree and performs similarly to Carolus. Golden eelworm resistance.

Maris Piper [Trial No 18] Sent by and available from Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU; www.thompson-morgan.com . Also available from JBA Seed Potatoes; http://www.jbaseedpotatoes.co.uk/ Forum remarks: cream skin, cream flesh, oval tubers, a massive favourite with gardeners.

Markies (PBR) [Trial No 19] Sent by Agrico UK Ltd, Castleton of Eassie, Glamis, Forfar, Angus, DD8 1SJ. Available from Marshalls Seeds; http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/ and Thompson & Morgan; www.thompson-morgan.com Forum remarks: cream skin, oval tubers, competitor to Maris Piper in the chippy trade, slightly more yellow flesh, some blight resistance.

Final Report for Trial No.2001 – Potato: Maincrop 2014 5

Melody (PBR) [Trial No 21] Sent by and available from Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU; www.thompson-morgan.com Forum remarks: yellow skin, medium yellow flesh, oval tubers, some blight resistance, gaining gardener interest. Good taste as a general purpose culinary variety.

Rooster (PBR) [Trial No 31] Sent by WCF-Phoenix, Cromwellstore, Almondbank, Perth, PH1 3GT. Available from Suttons Seeds; http://www.suttons.co.uk/ and Marshalls Seeds; http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/ Forum remarks: very popular red-skin variety, medium yellow flesh, oval tubers, superb roastie with flavour, good yield.

Sarpo Mira (PBR) [Trial No 36] Sent by and available from Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU; www.thompson-morgan.com Also available from JBA Seed Potatoes; http://www.jbaseedpotatoes.co.uk/ Forum remarks: red skin, white flesh, oval tubers, still the leading blight benchmark, disappointing yield here.

Final Report for Trial No.2001 – Potato: Maincrop 2014 6

Sunrise (PBR) [Trial No 38] Sent by WCF-Phoenix, Cromwellstore, Almondbank, Perth, PH1 3GT. Available form D T Brown; http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/ Forum remarks: parti-colour skin, light yellow flesh, short oval tubers, disappointing yield possibly due to location, although good taste.

Vales Sovereign (PBR) [Trial No 39] Sent by WCF-Phoenix, Cromwellstore, Almondbank, Perth, PH1 3GT. Available from; D T Brown; http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/ and Suttons Seeds; http://www.suttons.co.uk/ Forum remarks: parti-colour skin, cream flesh, long oval tubers, Picasso parent.

The Forum recommended the Society’s Award of Garden Merit (H2) SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY to: Bute (PBR) [Trial No 4] Sent by Caithness Potato Breeders Ltd, Greenwich Creekside, 40 Creek Road, London SE8 3FN Not yet available.

Forum remarks: white skin, white flesh, short oval tubers, quality was good but yield not as good as some. Mashed well and the flesh didn’t discolour.

Final Report for Trial No.2001 – Potato: Maincrop 2014 7

The Forum reconfirmed Society's AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT (H2) to:

Navan (PBR) (AGM 1993) [Trial No 23] Sent by WCF-Phoenix, Cromwellstore, Almondbank, Perth, PH1 3GT. Available from Patch Seed Potatoes UK, http://www.patchseedpotatoes.co.uk/ Forum remarks: white skin, cream flesh, oval tubers, has Maris Piper as parent, and still available to gardeners.

Picasso (PBR) (AGM 1993) [Trial No 26] Sent by and available from Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU; www.thompson-morgan.com Also available from JBA Seed Potatoes; http://www.jbaseedpotatoes.co.uk/ Forum remarks: parti-colour skin, medium yellow flesh, oval tubers, very popular allotment variety. Has Cara as parent, certainly a huge weight with several large bold tubers.

AGM = RHS Award of Garden Merit H2 = Tolerant of low temperatures, but will not survive being frozen. Except in frost-free inner-city areas or coastal extremities, requires glasshouse conditions in winter, but can be grown outdoors once risk of frost is over. Vegetable Trials Forum Members: J Barker, C Randel, Dr P Dawson, M Day, J England, Dr M Fletcher, I Gillott, T Hewitt, D I Jeffery, S Mercer, C Moncrieff, B Smith, S Wain, R White.

Final Report for Trial No.2001 – Potato: Maincrop 2014 8

Index of Plants in the Trial

Trial Entry

Name

AGM

Sender

1 Arran Victory Thompson & Morgan

2 Bikini Thompson & Morgan

3 Blue Danube Thompson & Morgan

4 Bute Caithness Potato Breeders Ltd.

5 Cara Thompson & Morgan

6 Carolus Agrico UK Ltd.

7 Chicago Thompson & Morgan

8 Desiree Thompson & Morgan

9 Fontane Agrico UK Ltd.

10 Golden Wonder Thompson & Morgan

11 Harmony WCF-Phoenix

12 Innovator WCF-Phoenix

13 Kerrs Pink WCF-Phoenix

14 King Edward Thompson & Morgan

15 Lady Balfour Thompson & Morgan

16 Majestic WCF-Phoenix

17 Manitou Agrico UK Ltd.

18 Maris Piper Thompson & Morgan

19 Markies Agrico UK Ltd.

20 Mayan Gold Thompson & Morgan

21 Melody Thompson & Morgan

22 Mozart HZPC UK Ltd.

23 Navan 1993 (H2)

WCF-Phoenix

24 Pentland Crown WCF-Phoenix

25 Performer Agrico UK Ltd.

26 Picasso 1993 (H2)

Thompson & Morgan

27 Pink Gypsy WCF-Phoenix

28 Purple Majesty WCF-Phoenix

29 Robinta WCF-Phoenix

Final Report for Trial No.2001 – Potato: Maincrop 2014 9

Trial Entry

Name

AGM

Sender

30 Romano WCF-Phoenix

31 Rooster WCF-Phoenix

32 Rubesse Thompson & Morgan

33 Rudolph Agrico UK Ltd.

34 Sante Thompson & Morgan

35 Sarpo Axona Thompson & Morgan

36 Sarpo Mira Thompson & Morgan

37 Setanta Thompson & Morgan

38 Sunrise WCF-Phoenix

39 Vales Sovereign WCF-Phoenix

40 Valor Thompson & Morgan

Sender details:

Agrico UK Ltd.: 01307 840551; www.agrico.co.uk

Caithness Potato Breeders Ltd.: 01738 446 723; www.caithnesspotatoes.com

HZPC UK Ltd.: 01724 710033; www.hzpc.com

Thompson & Morgan: 0844 248 5383; www.thompson-morgan.com

WCF-Phoenix: 01738 582020; www.wcfhorticulture.co.uk

Source: Horticultural Trials and Relations, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB

Tel: 01483 224234 & Email: trials@rhs.org.uk

More information about RHS Trials and other Trials reports can be found on the RHS Website at www.rhs.org.uk/trials