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Rooster is a Maincrop potato variety which was first introduced in 1991. From then on they have constantly been promoted by outstanding advertising campaigns. They are the top commercially produced variety in Ireland.
The commercial potato growers in Ireland love them, I would suspect because they have an excellent pest and disease record. The one Achilles Heel of Rooster is Potato Cyst Nematode where resistance is very low.
Rooster Potato
The shape of most Rooster potatoes is rather irregular which makes slicing them for chips problematic. The pink skin is firm (it definitely needs to be peeled for most uses) and the flesh is cream coloured. Taste is OK but nothing exceptional.
Mashed Rooster Potatoes
I have mashed them, roasted them, chipped them, sauteed them and boiled them and always fail to understand why this premium priced crop is rated anything but average.
Rooster produces a decent sized crop which is definitely in its favour. The plants tend to be slightly taller compared to other maincrop varieties so care will be needed in areas prone to windy conditions.
Rooster potatoes should be grown in the normal manner for Maincrop potatoes. Click here for our detailed page about growing potatoes. We wouldn't advise growing them in containers.
The best time to chit / sprout Rooster potatoes is the first week of March in average areas of the UK. Comprehensive details about how to chit potatoes can be found here.
Sprouted Seed Potatoes
The best time to plant out Rooster potatoes is about the first week of April in average areas of the UK.
Planting out on this date will give the seed potatoes about six 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. Comprehensive details about how to plant out potatoes can be found here.
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 Rooster potatoes in mid to late August 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"!
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 two weeks and try again.
Harvesting Rooster potatoes can be spread over three to four weeks and they can be stored successfully for a couple of months in the correct conditions. Comprehensive details about how to harvest and store potatoes can be found here.
For other maincrop potatoes we have tested select one from the drop down list below.
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