A beginner’s guide to planting and choosing potatoes

What varieties can I grow?

There are very few varieties that won’t reward with a moderate crop. Westcountry soil is varied and frequently on the acidic side, but what if you have light or heavy soil?

A first early like Rocket doesn’t thrive in heavy soil, preferring sandy soil. Maris Bard will tolerate heavier soils, giving a higher yield of bigger tubers, but will be a week or two later than the more recent introductions like Rocket and Swift.

It’s a similar story with second earlies, which are sown three to four weeks after first earlies, and maincrop varieties, which are some six to eight weeks after first earlies. A variety like Desiree, which is a great choice for maincrop being particularly versatile in the culinary department, has great flavour but won’t have the yield of a modern variety like Picasso.

How do I grow them?

A great way to discover varieties that suit your own particular taste and soil is to try a few different ones in containers. The container method is a great way to grow potatoes if space is an issue.

Put two or three inches of compost in the pot, sow your potato with the ‘eyes’ or shoots upwards and cover with compost. Add more compost as the shoots poke through until you are within a couple of inches of the top of the pot. The resultant crop should be ‘layered’ throughout the depth of the container.

Traditionally potatoes were always grown in trenches eight inches (in) or so deep with the potatoes 12in apart if first earlies or 18 to 24in if second earlies or maincrop. Try digging a single hole the same depth and do a row like this.

Remember a good fertiliser. Also earth up the plants once they start growing. This means simply raising the soil level around the base of each plant to prevent any potatoes that are near the surface from turning green – green potatoes are poisonous.

Potatoes need regular watering during the growing period or the crop will be small. Some varieties, such as Desiree, are more drought resistant than others as a general rule.

When are they ready?

Modern first earlies like Rocket or Swift are so named because they crop relatively early – 12 weeks from planting. Don’t expect large crops of massive spuds, we’re looking for 12 to 18 small fresh and tasty early potatoes. If you are patient give it another couple of weeks before lifting.

Second earlies and maincrop, as they are planted later, early to late April, will crop later in the year.

Look to late July/mid-August before attempting to lift maincrop potatoes. The foliage will die back and at this point they should be lifted.

Remember you don’t need a huge garden to try a few potato varieties, just space for a pot or two. Be adventurous and try a few different varieties that you haven’t tasted before. But above all, have fun.