Potatoes

One of the easiest garden vegetables to grow are potatoes, they are also very rewarding. You don’t need a huge garden and can even grow just a few plants in a container or Potato Growing Bag or even an Instant Potato Planter.

Start looking in the garden centre from January for your seed potatoes and buy them as soon as they come into the store. If you have a small garden or are trying them for the first time choose quick cropping varieties such as First Earlies that will produce lovely new potatoes when they are expensive to buy in the shops. If you are more experienced or have a larger garden then consider buying several varieties that mature in different months to prolong the harvest and provide fresh potatoes throughout the season.

Plant your seed potatoes during March or April if the conditions are right. Potatoes need plenty of room. It’s a good idea to spread them out when planting with at least 30-45cm (12-18in) between tubers and the same between rows. Plant them 6-8 inches deep and cover them over. Alternatively plant them in a Potato Growing Bag, filling the bag with organic Vegetable Growing Compost .  Position 3 to 5 sprouting seed potatoes on top of the compost and then cover with 10-15cm (4-6 inches) of compost.

When the plants have reached 20-30cm (8-12inches) tall then you need to draw the soil up and around them by scooping it out between the rows and using this soil to almost cover them over. This encourages potatoes to form higher up and ensures that light does not reach the developing tubers and turn them green. Ideally they should be ‘earthed up’ again in about 3 weeks.

Keep the potato patch weeded. Weeds will compete with the potatoes for water, light and nutrients. Feed your plants with a good, well-balanced fertiliser during May when they will be growing vigorously. Choose organic Potato & Vegetable Feed, Growmore Garden Fertiliser or organic Chicken Manure Pellets depending on your preference.

For more advice on growing potatoes follow our links on the right hand side.