Bubble and squeak, shepherd’s pie, mashed potatoes, chips – what do these beloved dishes have in common? Yes, they are lip-smacking. What else? They have one star ingredient – the good old potato. Whether you are craving a comforting Monday dinner or a crispy weekend treat, nothing can beat the flavour and quality of potatoes from your home garden. Timing is everything if you want an abundant harvest. You should know when to plant and grow potatoes in Britain’s temperate climate.
What to grow
There is a wide variety of potatoes. They come in different flavours, textures (waxy or floury), sizes, and colours (white, yellow, pink, red, or even purple). There are traditional varieties, and then hybrid, disease-resistant varieties. So choosing the ones you want to grow is important. Potatoes are primarily classified into two types: earlies and maincrops.Earlies (first or second): Known as ‘new potatoes’, these are small, tender, and flavourful varieties. They grow faster and can be harvested in 12 weeks. These varieties can be grown in compact spaces, even in containers. They are harvested by mid-summer.Maincrop: These varieties of potatoes require more time to grow. They grow through late summer into early autumn. The potatoes are bigger, and the harvest is larger. These delicious potatoes are perfect for roasting and baking, and also ideal for storing for the winter.
What is the best planting window for potatoes?
Depending on the type and variety of potatoes, they are planted at different times during the spring. First earlies are planted in late March, or in mid-March in milder southern areas. Second earlies follow, typically in early to mid-April. Maincrops are planted from mid-April to early May. In northern and colder parts of the UK, planting is done a little later.Planting times also depend on the region. In colder areas, it is best to plant slightly later. On the other hand, in milder areas, you can plant slightly earlier.You can also adopt other planting options to extend the cropping season. For instance, to grow an extra-early crop, plant chitted early varieties at the beginning of March. Keep them in large containers in a frost-free greenhouse with good light. They will be ready to harvest by mid-May.If you want to grow a winter or Christmas crop, plant cold-stored seed potatoes in July or at the beginning of August. Use large containers and grow them in a greenhouse or a bright, frost-free location. Growing them indoors will help prevent blight.
Things to keep in mind
For British home gardeners, the best bet is April. It is the safest all-round month to plant potatoes. Soil temperature and moisture are equally important as calendar dates, so plant only when the soil has warmed to at least 8°C and is neither waterlogged nor dust-dry. In northern Scotland or higher elevations, it is best to delay planting by two to three weeks compared with southern England. Happy farming!
