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The Sarpo Axona history begins with the Sárvári family at the Potato Research Centre, Pannonia in Hungary. They began breeding potatoes in their search for disease resistant varieties, in particular, resistance to blight.
They were partially successful on their own but left the Potato Research Centre to continue their research. By chance, Adam Anderson, a seed potato grower, realised the potential of the Sárvári potatoes and a new company (Danespo) was set up to take the research further.
This research moved to Wales and in 2002 the variety Sarpo Mira was released. Further breeding, based on Sarpo Mira, resulted in a slightly better potato variety but with the same bullet-proof resistance to blight, it was named Sarpo Axona and was released in 2005.
Sarpo Axona Potatoes
Courtesy of the
Diversity Website
Sarpo Axona is a pink skinned Maincrop potato variety that produces fairly large sized potatoes that are regular in shape. It produces a good sized crop of potatoes.
One of its claims to fame is that it is very blight resistant. It can be grown next to a potato variety which may well be killed entirely by blight but the Sarpo Axona potatoes will be virtually unaffected. Another attribute is that slug damage is minimal.
This is a floury variety of potato which is excellent when baked and is also good for roasting, chips and sauteing. It doesn't fare well as a boiled potato. The flesh is a good looking creamy yellow.
Sarpo Axona 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.
Main crop potatoes like Sarpo Axona benefit little, if at all, from chitting. However, if you really do want to chit this variety, the best time 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 Sarpo Axona 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 Sarpo Axona 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 one or two weeks and try again.
Harvesting Sarpo Axona 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.
The only other potato varieties which resist blight anywhere near as effectively as Sarpo Axona are other Sarpo varieties, such as Sarpo Mira. However it is widely accepted that Sarpo Axona is superior for cooking and texture. For other maincrop potatoes we have tested select one from the drop down list below.
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