Seed Potatoes

HELPFUL HINTS FOR GROWING YOUR OWN
FRESH POTATOES

STORAGE
Remove from net / bag immediately and place in a tray with any sprouts facing upwards. An egg box is ideal for this. Give maximum exposure to light but protect from frost. This “chitting” should take around 6 weeks and produce several sturdy 1– 3cm (1-2”) shoots.

PLANTING
Prepare ground by digging and manuring, preferably in the autumn for spring planting. Prepare your seed bed from February onwards as conditions allow. Use fertiliser at the rate of 100g per square metre (3oz per square yard). Apply half of your fertiliser at this stage on the surface of the soil. Potatoes are planted to a depth of about 10-15cm (4-6”), about 30cm (12”) apart in rows 60 -75cm (24-30”) apart. The tubers are best planted in trenches with the remaining fertiliser in the bottom of the trench covered with a thin layer of soil. The tuber is planted on top of this with the sprouts facing upwards. Refill the trench to cover the tubers.

Earlies are planted in March/April, maincrops in April/May when the danger of frost is gone.

CARE
When the green shoots (haulm) reach about 20cm (8”) high begin earthing up (covering stem bases with soil) to protect the crop from light. Water well in long dry spells.

HARVESTING
Earlies should be ready to harvest in around 9 – 12 weeks from planting, when the flowers are fully open. Maincrops in about 14 weeks. If you intend to store the tubers cut off the haulm and leave for 14 days before harvesting. Store in a cool dry store.

GROWING POTATOES ON PATIOS
Potatoes may also be grown in patio tubs more than 45cm (18”) in diameter filled with compost. Keep moist and cover the surface of the soil with black polythene to exclude light. Ensure you cut a slit above each tuber to allow haulm to grow through.

PESTS

Slug damage is more prevalent in wet and heavy soils. Limit the use of manure in heavy conditions and use some form of slug control.