Potatoes - Main Crop

Type: Vegetable

Rotation Group: 1, Potatoes and Tomatoes


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DESIREE

One of Britain's most popular and best-loved varieties. This red-skinned favourite does well on all soils and its yellow, waxy textured flesh has a lovely flavour. It can become very large and slightly mis-shapen, but is nevertheless very versatile. Boil, mash, chip or saute.
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KING EDWARD

This old traditional English favourite needs good soil to do well and crops are more modest than some but it's well worth growing. Long growing season.Boil, steam, mash, chip, saute, bake or roast.
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SARPO MIRA

This late maincrop produces a large yield of red, oval potatoes that can store for a long period of time in the right conditions. Potato Sarpo Mira is a great all-rounder for all culinary dishes with its flavoursome floury taste.
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MARIS PIPER

A reliable general purpose choice producing tubers that show good resistance to eelworm and are a national favourite. Great beginner variety. Colour - white. Shape - oval. Boil, steam, mash, chip, saute, bake or roast.

Site, Soil and Preparation

Potatoes need a sunny site. Avoid planting in a spot prone to late frosts. Prepare the ground, ideally the previous autumn or winter, by digging in plenty of organic matter such as garden compost or well rotted manure.

Indoor Sowing

It's important with earlies, and a good idea with maincrops, to 'chit' the seed potatoes before planting. This means allowing them to start sprouting shoots.

Outdoor Sowing

Plant potatoes in a narrow trench 12cm (5in) deep. Space the potatoes 37cm (15in) for maincrops in rows 75cm (30in) apart. Apply a general-purpose fertiliser at this stage.

Thinning

Thinning of potatoes is not needed.

Transplanting

Transplanting of potatoes is not needed.

Care

Keep the young plants weed free and well watered until established and then only water during dry periods.

Harvest

With maincrops for storage, wait until the foliage turns yellow, then cut it down and remove it. Wait for 10 days before harvesting the potatoes, and leave them to dry for a few hours before storing. Main crops are ready August-October.