PARENTAGE

The parents of Setanta are Brodick x Rooster. 

APPEARANCE, TASTE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SETANTA

The Setanta potato

Setanta is an Irish bred potato which initially received some adverse comments as far as taste and texture is concerned. No one denied that it is resistant to blight of the tubers but many believed there must therefore be a corresponding decreases in taste and texture.

Having grown Setanta over two separate years we can report that this is a good tasting maincrop potato. This is backed up by other organisations when they have conducted blind tastings. It keeps well both in storage and when left in the ground.

Not only is it resistant to some of the effects of blight but it has very good resistance to common scab. The skins are quite thick so slug damage is also minimal. Inside the flesh is a light creamy white and has lots of
starchy dense matter. Not a potato for boiling but it does make exceptionally good chips, roasts and sautés. We like it a lot and if blight is a problem in your garden /allotment then this is a good choice.

POSITIVE POINTS FOR SETANTA
Blight resistance to the tubers is excellent. Slugs and common scab don't cause many problems for Setanta either. Given such good pest and disease resistance we can confirm that the taste is very acceptable as well for roasting, chips, mash and sauté. Keeping times are above average.

NEGATIVE POINTS FOR SETANTA
None really, this is not an exceptional variety but its blight resistance lifts it well above many other varieties.

BUYING SETANTA SEED POTATOES IN THE UK

This is not a particularly common variety but can be bought online and may occasionally be found in garden centres . 

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.

JBA Seed Potatoes sell this variety, click here for more details.

ALTERNATIVES TO SETANTA POTATOES

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

The planting and harvest dates used below are correct for the UK average. If you want them to be even more accurate and adjusted for your area of the UK click here. It only takes a minute and the adjustment affects every date in this site and lasts for six months.

WHEN TO CHIT / SPROUT SETANTA POTATOES

In all the tests we have conducted and those we have researched, there is no detectable difference between maincrop potatoes which are chitted and those which are planted directly in the ground. However if you want to stick with tradition and chit your Setanta potatoes, we recommend that you start chitting / sprouting this variety 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 SETANTA POTATOES

Setanta potatoes are maincrop potatoes and they are ready for harvest, if conditions are correct, 18 to 20 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 Setanta 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 March is about right time to plant them.

WHEN TO HARVEST SETANTA 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 potatoes to be ready for harvest some time between the first and third weeks of August 2017 in your area of the UK.

PEST AND DISEASE RESISTANCE OF SETANTA POTATO

The table below sets out how good or bad Setanta potato plants are at resisting common pests and diseases in the UK. The 0 point is average with minus (red) values showing lower than average resistance and plus values (green) showing higher than average resistance.
 

SUMMARY CHARACTERISTICS OF SETANTA

TYPE: Maincrop

USE: Very adaptable for cooking, use for chips, frying, mash and roasts.

SKIN COLOUR / TEXTURE: Mid brown, relatively smooth

FLESH COLOUR: White to cream

TASTE AND TEXTURE: Low in water content, Setanta potatoes have good taste.

STORAGE: Stores very well

POTATO SIZE: Average

REGULARITY OF CROPPING: Regularly produces a high yield

AWARDS: None

SPECIAL FEATURES: Very resistant to tuber blight

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 varietyAccentAmourAnyaArran PilotArran VictoryCaraCharlotteDesireeEstimaInternational KidneyKerrs PinkKestrelKing EdwardMajesticMaris PeerMaris PiperMaxineNicolaPentland JavelinRed Duke of YorkSetantaSharpes ExpressValorWiljaWinston