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Pentland Javelin was created by the king of potato breeders Dr Jack Dunnet MBE in Scotland, 1968. This variety is rarely seen in supermarkets, sometimes available at Farmer's Markets but is a favourite of amateur gardeners.
Pentland Javelin are good looking potatoes, generally even in size. The skin is very light brown and the flesh is light yellow. The texture is waxy and full of flavour. They are oval shaped, smooth with only a few shallow eyes.
Their principal cooking use is as a boiled potato and also as a salad potato. They mature around a week or so later compared to most First Early varieties. At that stage the potatoes will be the optimum size.
They can be left in the ground for a month or so longer and they will then be more starchy and make very decent roast potatoes and chips.
The height of the plants at maturity will be about 60cm so they withstand windy conditions well. Resistance to scab is good but blight resistance is definitely on the low side. They grow very well in large containers.
Pentland Javelin Potato
Pentland Javelin potatoes should be grown in the normal manner for First Early potatoes. Click here for our detailed page about growing potatoes. The advice applies to growing potatoes in containers as well as in open ground.
The best time to chit / sprout Pentland Javelin potatoes is the first week of March in average areas of the UK.
Sprouted Seed Potatoes
Being a First Early variety it is definitely worth chitting / sprouting Pentland Javelin potatoes - it will give a more reliable crop although not absolutely necessary. Click here for our advice on how and why to chit / sprout potatoes.
The best time to plant out chitted / sprouted Pentland Javein potatoes is about the first week of April in average areas of the UK.
Planting out on this date will give the chitted / sprouted potatoes about four weeks before they reach the surface of the soil. Whilst they are growing towards the soil surface the sprouts will be protected from frost by the surrounding soil.
By the time they do appear above the soil, the danger of frost will have passed and the sprouts will not be damaged by frost.
As with all vegetables, the time for harvest is dependent on many factors such as the weather conditions while they are growing and the general soil conditions.
On average however you can expect to start harvesting Pentland Javelin potatoes in the fourth week of June in average areas of the UK.
Using the above date as a guide we would advise that a week before that date you use your hand to search through the soil to harvest one or two potatoes. The term often used for this activity is known in gardening circles as "furtling"!
Flower of Pentland Javelin
It does almost no damage to the remaining potatoes but allows you to examine one or two of the potatoes to ensure they are of approximately the correct size. If they are, start harvesting, if not wait for a week or two and try again.
Harvesting Pentland Javelin potatoes can be spread over three to four weeks. First Early potatoes do not store for very long so be sure to read our page on storing potatoes to get the most from your crop of Pentland Javelin potatoes.
Obvious alternatives to Pentland Javelin are International Kidney and Arran Pilot. For other second early potatoes we have tested, select one from the drop down list below.
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