Favourite potatoes - Nadine
This was the first big commercial success enjoyed by Jack Dunnett as
an independent potato breeder. It was introduced in 1987 and is a
second early. It is grown all over the world - it's
the variety sold most frequently by my local Co-Op. The tubers have
an attractive appearance; white, fairly smooth-skinned, and uniform
in shape and size. They are often sold as baking potatoes
but they boil better. The flavour is mild.
J.D. offers the following interesting comments on potato
flavour in his book:
.....It is less than politically correct to point out that potatoes are
a staple food and that staple foods such as bread, potatoes and
pasta require to be cheap, nutritious and bland. They provide the basis
for a meal rather than something to be eaten on their own ... people can be
very boring on the subject of flavour in potatoes because all too
often they forget that they are simply airing their own preferences and
prejudices.
The Potato Marketing Board, in their 1990 consumer survey, found that Nadine
was as well liked as Wilja and marginally better liked than Maris Piper.
Nadine is much in demand for prepeeling - potatoes which are delivered
to hotels, schools, etc, daily. Many prepeelers now stipulate Nadine
as the variety they want. Ideally they need small potatoes which will
remain whole on boiling or steaming and which continue to look bright
and attractive on standing. Canners, punneters, and manufacturers of
potato salads, Cornish pasties and baby food also ask for Nadine.
I haven't grown this recently - so no photo of the tubers yet. Blight resistance
is 5 - about the same as Pentland Dell.
Flowers
