PARENTAGE

The parents of Estima are Nopol x unnamed variety 

APPEARANCE, TASTE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF ESTIMA

The Estima potato

The yield from Estima is consistently good, not because of the number of potatoes produced but because each potato is slightly larger than normal. The skin is always smooth and there are very few eyes. Although some might call the appearance rather bland, it is at least consistent and even with few blemishes. Disease resistance is variable but if slugs or scab are a problem in your area then Estima is a variety to consider growing.

Estima are good for boiling and mashing with the larger ones make excellent baked potatoes. They do benefit significantly from being left in the sun for a day or so to dry out the surface which will stop them breaking up when cooked.

POSITIVE POINTS FOR ESTIMA
Good resistance to slugs and scab. High yields of largish potatoes. A very good all round cooker.

NEGATIVE POINTS FOR ESTIMA
Slightly bland taste although some might refer to is as a delicate taste which compliments other ingredients in a meal.

BUYING ESTIMA SEED POTATOES IN THE UK

Estima seed potatoes are available online, in some garden centres and also some of the diy stores. They are also sold by some of the discount supermarkets at low prices – most years they appear in Lidl, Aldi, Wilkinsons and even Poundland from the middle of February.

We recommend buying your seed potatoes from certified suppliers because those sold in supermarkets for consumption can be a source of disease and pest. We would avoid buying them from online general retailers such as as Amazon or E-bay unless you know exactly who is supplying the seed potatoes.

Buying seed potatoes from the discount store can be a good deal but it can also result in a sub-standard crop. The discount stores take the second quality seed potatoes whereas the more specialist suppliers take the best quality. Unfortunately you will only find this out after you have carefully tended your crop for several months.

Crocus (a GardenFocused approved supplier) sell Estima seed potatoes (and many other varieties) which are not only correctly certified but they are graded by size to avoid unduly small seed potatoes being sold.
Click here for more information and to buy Estima online. A 2kg bag will contain about 22 good sized seed potatoes.

ALTERNATIVES TO ESTIMA POTATOES

The key qualities of this variety are reliability of producing good sized potatoes. Nicola potatoes, left in the ground, will produce good sized potatoes regularly. They also taste better in our opinion. Maris Peer are another variety to consider with good blight resistance.

For other potato varieties which we have fully reviewed, click the drop down box below, select a variety and then click the More Information Button.

Choose a potato varietyAccent 1st earlyAmour MaincropAnya 2nd earlyArran Pilot 1st earlyArran Victory MaincropCara MaincropCharlotte 2nd earlyDesiree MaincropEstima 2nd earlyInternational Kidney 2nd earlyJazzy 2nd earlyKerrs Pink MaincropKestrel 2nd earlyKing Edward MaincropLady Christl 1st earlyMajestic MaincropMaris Peer 2nd earlyMaris Piper MaincropMaxine MaincropNicola 2nd EarlyOrla 1st EarlyPentland Javelin 1st EarlyPink Fir Apple MaincropRed Duke of York 1st EarlyRocket 1st EarlySarpo Axona MaincropSetanta MaincropSharpes Express 1st earlySwift 1st earlyValor MaincropVitabella 1st / 2nd earlyVivaldi 2nd earlyWilja 2nd earlyWinston 1st early

WHEN TO CHIT / SPROUT ESTIMA POTATOES

We recommend that you start chitting / sprouting Estima potatoes in. the third week of February This will give them four to five weeks to develop healthy sprouts just at the time when they are ready to be planted out. Keep the potatoes in cool but light conditions to ensure they grow short, green sprouts. Click here for our page dedicated to chitting / sprouting potatoes in the UK and Ireland.

WHEN TO PLANT ESTIMA POTATOES

Estima potatoes are second earlies potatoes and they are ready for harvest, if conditions are correct, 15 to 17 weeks after the seed potatoes are planted. The key factor governing the time for planting all potatoes is the date of the last frost in your area. Even a touch of frost can damage potato plants if their foliage is above ground, an unexpected severe frost can kill them completely.

The date for planting Estima potato seed can be calculated on the basis that seed potatoes will take four weeks before they appear above ground. Given also that you want them to appear above ground only when the danger of frost has passed (the last week of April is the UK average ) the last week of Marchis about right time to plant them. Planting and care of Estima potatoes has no special requirements but note that the plants do grow to be relatively tall so a protected position is best for them.

WHEN TO HARVEST ESTIMA POTATOES

The harvest date for all potatoes is not only dependent on when you plant your seed potatoes, it also depends on the weather conditions throughout the growing season. But on average you can expect your Estima potatoes to be ready for harvest some time between the first and second weeks of July in your area of the UK. This variety is a second early and they store better than most similar potatoes, a couple of months in the correct conditions. Click here if you want to know more about harvesting and storing potatoes.