John Clarke, 1889-1980,
& the Ulster Varieties
John Clarke was an independent potato breeder from Antrim, Northern Ireland. His first varieties were introduced in 1934. His potatoes are prefixed by the word 'Ulster', and many of them were popular until the mid 1960s. A few of his earlies are still available.
ULSTER CHIEFTAIN (1938)
This is a first early. It was the first of Clarke's varieties to become popular commercially; a white-skinned, white fleshed potato, of average cooking quality. It is susceptible to blight, and the haulms are quite small (so small that it can be grown under polythene).
Pictures (click on small images for detail):
Tubers
ULSTER PRINCE (1947)
This variety was a very popular first early in the 1950s. It is slightly later than other first earlies. It has good tolerance to drought, but is badly affected by frost. It is still available for amateur gardeners. It is white skinned, white fleshed, kidney shaped, and the texture is predominantly waxy, with little disintegration on boiling.
Pictures (click on small images for detail):
Tubers
ULSTER SCEPTRE (1964)
This was one of Clarke's last releases, and his most successful. It yields well and has a firm waxy texture. It is a first early (Pentland Ace x Ulster Prince). It is oval, yellow skinned, yellow fleshed, and susceptible (like most earlies) to blight.
ND / Diversity website
