Purchase good quality seed potatoes from the garden centre. The choice of varieties will surprise you so make your selection based on your own preference. Before planting you will need to 'chit' potatoes – allow shoots to grow from the 'rose' end where the most 'eyes' are situated... usually the widest end. Set out the potato tubers in egg trays or shallow boxes, rose end pointing upwards. If you set them out the wrong way up and the shoots appear distorted and weak, just rub off the shoots with your finger and replace the correct way up, and they will sprout again. Place the boxes in a light (not sunny) but frost-free room to encourage sturdy shoots and not weak, spindly growth.
After six weeks the sprouts should be about 5cm (2in) long and ready to plant. Cover the bottom of the sack or container with a layer of compost 10cm (4in) deep. Position two or three potatoes on the surface of the compost and cover with 15cm (6in) of compost. Water well and put in a bright, sheltered position, away from radiators if possible.
As the shoots grow add layers of compost on top to prevent light from reaching the tubers and turning them green but leave enough leaves uncovered to allow them to absorb sunlight and thrive.
Harvest times depend on numerous factors including weather, temperature, variety and climate. First earlies can normally be harvested around 10 weeks after planting and eaten straightaway. Second earlies and salad varieties can be harvested approximately 13 weeks after planting. A good general indicator is when the plants come into flower. When this happens check the size of the tubers by scraping away the compost from the surface of the pot and having a look. Harvest them when they look a good size for eating – freshly boiled with butter, sour cream or mayonnaise they taste great!
Growing Potatoes in Pots
• Share a pack of potatoes with family & friends!
• Remove from packaging and place a seed potato in a shallow tray or empty egg box
• Stand the tuber so that the end with the most eyes faces upwards
• Leave the tray in a cool, light, frost-free place until the sprouts are about 2.5cm long.
• Half fill a pot or bucket of at least 25cm diameter with multi purpose compost (you can use the contents of a grow bag) and bury the seed potato, for much larger containers use more than one, just below the surface of the compost
• Keep the pot in a frost free greenhouse or porch until April, or until the risk of frost has passed, but make sure if late frost is forecast you cover the pot and younger plants with garden fleece at night
• As the shoots grow cover with more compost until the pot is full
• Water regularly to keep the compost moist but not wet and, if the leaves start to yellow, feed with a general purpose or tomato fertiliser
• By late June or early July your potatoes should be ready. Either tip the contents out or gently feel for any of eating size and leave the rest to continue growing
Seed potato planting instructions
• Remove from packaging and place seed potatoes in shallow trays or empty egg boxes
• Stand each tuber so that the end with the most eyes faces upwards
• Leave trays in a cool, light, frost-free place until the sprouts are about 2.5cm long.
• In the area to be planted, dig in plenty of well rotted manure or compost and add some general purpose fertiliser just before planting.
• When the risk of frost has passed, (early spring, from March to May) plant the tubers, in rows, about 10cm deep, 30cm between each tuber and 60cm between each row. Cover the tubers, leaving the soil level again.
• As the plants begin to appear, draw soil from the middle of the row up round the neck of the plant, this creating ridges along the rows.
• To avoid the risk of potato blight infection, plants should ideally be sprayed with a fungicide during warm, humid spells of weather.
• Harvest first earlies when the flowers appear in June and July. Second earlies in July and August as required. Maincrop potatoes are best left until the foliage has died down in Autumn.
• To store for winter use, lift the crop and allow to dry before storing in a cool, dry, dark, frost-free place.
Harvest time depends on:
• Planting date
• Weather & temperature when you plant
• Weather during growing season
• Length of time the variety takes to mature
• Weather & temperature at harvest time
A General Guide:
• First earlies: June to July. Best harvested in small quantities & eaten fresh. When you see the first flowers there should be tubers ready to eat
• Second earlies: July to August. Again best harvested in small quantities for eating fresh but allow to grow a little larger than first earlies
• Early maincrop: August to September. Allow the foliage to die back before harvesting
• Late maincrop: September to October. Allow the foliage to die back before harvesting
• Red/white skin, cream flesh.
• Good resistance to blight
• Medium dry texture
• Good for boiling, baking, mashing & roasting
• White skinned
• White waxy flesh which does not disintegrate on cooking
• Ideal for growing in large pots
• A great flavour and excellent in salads
• These tubers have a soft, creamy flesh
• Great for baking and also good for chips, boiling & wedges - delicious!
