Potato ‘Cliff Kidney’

Botanical Name: Solanum tuberosum Lifecycle: Annual Heritage: NZ, early 1900's ‘Cliff Kidney’ is a waxy kidney shaped Potato with white flesh and white skin. A delicious tasting small early potato. It’s suitable for boiling, salads, casseroles and soups. Our beloved grandfather always grew this variety for the family Christmas feast every year. Cliff Kidney has been grown in New Zealand since at least the early 1900’s. They are believed to have been commercially developed by a South Canterbury farmer come potato grower Mr H. E. M’Gowan, who stated that he was given the original tubers by Māori in 1902 from one of their old fortifications at Otago heads. It was there growing wild on the cliff, hence its name. Early Crop: They are an early season potato that’s best enjoyed fresh and generally unsuitable for storing for long periods. Harvest: About 80 – 90 days after planting. It rarely produces flowers but is harvested when any flowers are fully open and the foliage is still green. SOWING: Spring - Early Summer Sow Direct Seed potatoes are typically chitted in preparation of planting, which involves letting their roots start to sprout. To chit your seed potatoes spread them out in a light place but shielded from direct sunlight in a dry, cool, frost free area. Let the roots develop for about 3-6 weeks until they have reached 2cm in length. Our seed potatoes may have started to chit already and be starting to show root sprouts when you receive them. Seed potatoes are best sown in spring through early summer. Northern areas can plant potatoes from mid winter, whereas southern areas should wait for frosts to have passed before planting. Seed potatoes are best sown in rows directly in place approx. 25cm apart and 15cm deep, with rows spaced approx. 60cm apart. Sow your seed potatoes with their root sprouts pointing upwards and lightly cover with soil carefully as to not damage the formed sprouts. 7°c - 20°c 21 - 42 days When your potato plants reach 5cm - 10cm in height begin mounding soil around the plants to protect potatoes from greening and insect damage, and continue mounding as they grow taller. 25cm - 30cm 80 - 90 days Tender TIPS: Potatoes grow best in well-draining sandy soils. Poorly draining soils are more likely to produced diseased potato tubers. Keep the soil moist and ensure your potato plants are kept free of weeds. Trenching for your potato rows and only filling them in lightly at planting will allow you to use any leftover soil for mounding them up as your potato plants grow. As the stems start to push through cover them a little more each week until the mound has reached about 20cm in height above the soil. The more of the growing stem you have beneath the soil enables more opportunity for the plant to produce potatoes and a bigger crop. Record your sowing/planting date and harvest once the potato plants have reached maturity according to the tips in the description above. Carefully dig out your potatoes with a fork or spade, and eat any potatoes that get speared first as they won’t keep for long. Once harvested store your potatoes in a cool, dark place to retain their freshness and eat and enjoy. PACKET SIZE: HOME GARDEN ($8.50) 750g