Home
Potatoes 'Up-To-Date' / 'Fin de Siècle'

Potatoes 'Up-To-Date' / 'Fin de Siècle'

Product number: 407925.1
Origin: Europe
Latin: Solanum tuberosum

(1894) Parents: Patersons Victoria x Blue Don. A Scottish potato from grower Findlay, which saw out the end of the 19th century and still garners much attention: its smooth, firm tuber with a waxy texture is truly a delight among potatoes! This variety can truly be considered slow food; the flavour slowly develops during growth, and the plants are harvestable in mid-late season. Cook them with little water for 10 minutes, drain, and let them finish cooking in a towel. Steaming is even better. Traditionally one of the tastiest potatoes for baking or frying... A funny detail is that this variety is one of the most popular in Tasmania! We found an exclamation on the internet: “Gee... I really can’t wait to try some “unique, up-to-date” potato chips. Silly me, there I was perfectly happy eating what I thought were the best potato chips in the world.”

MAIN CROP VARIETY FOR CONNOISSEURS.
A main crop variety means it can be harvested from September. Harvesting a few weeks earlier is possible by planting sooner. Planting time is from mid-April, when the soil has warmed up sufficiently. Pre-sprouting in light or in a large pot can be done earlier. Do not plant them in too wet a spot, but in full sun. Main crop varieties can suffer from the dreaded potato blight (Phytophthora infestans). Some preventive measures are: spacious planting, fertilizing with patentkali, no spraying water on the plant, and possibly organic spraying with sulfur or silinal. The average planting distance is 70x40 cm; we recommend maintaining 80x40 cm to prevent diseases.

Names:
Latin: Solanum tuberosum
Dutch: Aardappel
English: Potato

Planting time:

April
May

Soil type:

All soil types

Location:

Flower colour: White flowers, sometimes with a purple hue
Average growth height: 60 to 90 cm
Bulb / tuber size: 28/35
Attractive to insects: N/A
Annual or perennial: Perennial
Winter hardy: Moderately frost hardy
Origin: Europe
Ease of cultivation: Moderate

Latin: Solanum tuberosum
Dutch: Potato
Also known as: N/A
English: Potato

“These potatoes don’t taste like they used to…” Does that lament sound familiar? Perhaps you lived (and tasted!) more intensely in the past, but when it comes to those old forgotten varieties, we have good news for you: they’re back, those spuds of yesteryear! Old varieties from before 1950 with unique flavours, special colours, and unfamiliar shapes. How wonderful it would be if all those historical varieties were available on a special shelf at the greengrocer… but for now, you’ll have to grow them yourself (or have them grown) for this “new” culinary journey of discovery. Just a culinary tip: due to their special colour or shape, don’t peel them, but clean them thoroughly and cook them whole; often, the colour is retained after cooking, and presentation matters, doesn’t it? In the English tradition, harvested potatoes are neatly cleaned and displayed in baskets. You could expand this harvest presentation with unique cucumbers, multi-coloured chard, pumpkins, red kale, blue corn: “browse” our seed guides for all those special (old but now trendy) vegetables. Potatoes that you have displayed for a while will gradually turn green and will then no longer be edible. For the grower, it’s important to know that these old varieties are more susceptible to disease: plant them with ample space and keep a close eye on them. A fun tip: just plant at least 5 varieties; they are packaged in small portions (1 kg). Place a clear sign next to each separate variety. Cook and taste them separately, make it a “Van Gogh Potato Eaters Feast”… If you know a “forgotten” variety, let us know. All that remains is to wish you a very good harvest and (for later): bon appétit!