How to grow potatoes
Baked, mashed, roasted or fried, nothing tastes as good as your own home-grown crop of potatoes. This versatile veg is loved by everyone and is one of the easiest to grow at home, making it ideal for beginners or a fun family project. You don’t even need a big garden to grow spuds - many varieties of potato will happily grow in a large bag or pot outside
Plant your potatoes today and you’ll be harvesting your bounty in the summer or early autumn, just in time for salads, BBQs, soups and stews! Or keep some stored away and impress your friends and family when you serve up your very own roasties on Christmas day
Know before you grow
There are three main types of potatoes and all are best planted across March, April and May. Each of their names will give you a clue as to when to plant them: early potatoes (or new potatoes), second early potatoes (also called ‘new’ potatoes) and maincrop potatoes. First and second early varieties are small, sweet, and don’t take long to grow either – they’re usually ready to harvest in as little as 12 weeks. They take up little room so are better for small plots and containers. Maincrop potatoes are larger and better for baking and roasting. They take a bit longer to grow, and can be stored for use through winter
Unfortunately, to grow potatoes you can’t just use any old spud from your cupboard. You need seed potatoes, which are specifically grown to be replanted and produce crops
You may have heard about “chitting” your potatoes before planting them. This simply means letting your seed potatoes grow shoots before planting. It isn’t essential, but it does help bring a bigger and earlier crop, so is worthwhile if you have the time. To chit your seed potatoes, stand them upright in an egg carton or tray container, with the ‘eyes’ (the little buds) facing upwards, and keep them in a bright and frost-free place until new shoots start to come through. This can take up to 6 weeks
What you need
Know your seed potatoes
There is a wide variety of potatoes to choose from, far more than you can get in the shop, so have fun and plant a few batches at the same time to really take advantage of the different flavours, textures, sizes and colours potatoes have to offer. Here are some of our favourites:
POTATO 'DUKE OF YORK'
This first early seed potato is a traditional favourite and can be planted at end of February. With a firm yellow flesh, they have a deliciously rich flavour and go lovely with a sprig of mint
POTATO 'CHARLOTTE'
These potatoes are a popular second early potato and are ready to plant mid-April. With a firm flesh, these potatoes are ideal for boiling, steaming and fresh salads
THE MARIS PIPER
The ‘Maris Piper’ is an all-rounder maincrop potato for planting in late-April. Their fluffy white flesh makes them wonderfully crisp for tasty chips and roast potatoes
When to plant potatoes
When to plant first early potatoes: Around late-March
When to plant second early potatoes: Early to mid-April
When to plant maincrop potatoes: Mid to late-April/May
Top tip: Plant early, second early and maincrop varieties in separate bags and you’ll have fresh, tasty potatoes all summer long
When to harvest potatoes
When to harvest first early potatoes: Around June and July
When to harvest second early potatoes: Around July and August
When to harvest maincrop potatoes: From late-August to October
Top tip: One thing to remember is that, depending on where you are in the country, these times will be slightly different. In areas with milder weather, the timescales may be a little earlier, and for those with harsher weather, it could be a little later
Step by Step Guide: How to Plant Potatoes in a Bag or Tub
1. Fill about a quarter of your potato sack or tub with good quality multi-purpose compost. You’ll want to mix in a couple of handfuls of potato fertiliser to give them an extra boost too
2. Plant three seed potatoes on the top of the soil, evenly spaced out, and cover with another layer of compost, around 4 inches to block out light
3. Water regularly to keep the compost moist and keep the sack or tub in a bright, frost-free place. Keep topping up the compost as green shoots appear, until it’s full to the brim
4. Harvest your homegrown potatoes after about 12 weeks, or when the plants have flowered but the foliage is still green. Once this happens, tip the bag or tub upside down, gently shake out the contents onto the ground and get ready to eat. How many potatoes you get per plant will depend on the conditions, but you can hope for around 10!