17 February 2024
Written by Benedict Vanheems
Potatoes are a staple in many gardens and kitchens, and growing your own can be incredibly rewarding. Whether you’re aiming for a bumper crop or just seeking a fun gardening project, mastering the art of potato cultivation can lead to a plentiful, high-quality harvest. Here’s an in-depth guide to growing the best potatoes, even if you have limited space!
Types of Potatoes
Potatoes are typically categorized based on how long they take to mature, which affects their size and texture. Here are the main types:
- Early Season (First Earlies): These are quick to grow, typically ready in 10-12 weeks, and harvested early in summer. They have thin skins and are ideal for boiling or making salads.
- Mid-Season (Second Earlies): These take 12-14 weeks to mature and are harvested from mid to late summer. They have a versatile texture, suitable for boiling, baking, and mashing.
- Late Season (Maincrop): These require more space, taking 14-20 weeks to grow. They produce larger, heartier tubers perfect for long-term storage, typically harvested in late summer or autumn.
When selecting a variety, consider your preferred use—fluffy, floury potatoes for mashing, waxy potatoes for salads, or all-purpose varieties for versatility. Also, choose varieties that resist common pests and diseases, like blight and slugs. This year, I’m planting ‘Sarpo Mira’ for blight resistance and quick-growing first earlies under cover.
Chitting Potatoes: Giving Them a Head Start
Chitting (sprouting) potatoes before planting gives them an early boost. By allowing the seed potatoes to sprout in a cool, bright place (like a greenhouse or windowsill), they’ll be a week or two ahead when you plant them. For larger potatoes, you can cut them into sections, ensuring each piece has at least two eyes. Be cautious not to let the shoots get long and spindly—short, sturdy sprouts are ideal.
The number of sprouts will influence the size of your potatoes. For fewer but larger tubers, leave only a couple of eyes on each seed potato.
Determinate vs. Indeterminate Varieties
Potato varieties are either determinate or indeterminate, similar to tomatoes. Determinate varieties grow their tubers in one layer and are better for containers or small spaces. Indeterminate varieties grow tubers more vertically and require more space, but they produce heavier crops.
Some examples:
- Determinate: Anya, Rocket, Vivaldi
- Indeterminate: Desiree, Nicola, Rooster
Knowing which type you’re growing helps you manage space and yield.
Growing Potatoes in Containers
Limited space? No problem! Potatoes grow excellently in containers. Choose large tubs (about 30 liters or 8 US gallons) and fill them with a mix of potting soil and compost. Add seed potatoes in layers, ensuring you leave enough room for them to grow. For indeterminate varieties, plant just two potatoes in the bottom to allow the tubers to form vertically.
Water your containers regularly, especially during hot weather, and top them with mulch (like straw or dry grass) to conserve moisture and keep them insulated.
Planting Potatoes
Plant potatoes in early to mid-spring, but if you have a greenhouse or a mild climate, you can start earlier. Avoid frosts, as potatoes don’t handle cold well. In the ground, space your potatoes 14-16 inches apart for early varieties and 18 inches for maincrops.
Hilling Up Potatoes
Hilling, or mounding soil around your potato plants as they grow, is essential for indeterminate varieties. This gives the tubers more room to swell, improving your yield. For determinate varieties, simply mulch to keep the tubers covered and protected from the sun.
Potato Care
Keep your potatoes well-watered, especially in containers, where moisture can evaporate quickly. Watering at the base of the plant avoids wetting the foliage and reducing the risk of diseases like blight.
Blight is a significant concern for potato growers. To minimize the risk, plant early-maturing or blight-resistant varieties, and act quickly if you spot symptoms. If blight strikes, prune back the foliage but wait three weeks before harvesting to allow spores to die off.
Harvesting and Storing Potatoes
Early potatoes can be harvested as soon as they begin flowering. Gently dig around the plant to avoid damaging the tubers. For late-season potatoes, stop watering a few weeks before harvesting to allow the skins to toughen for storage. Once harvested, cure the potatoes by drying them for a few hours in the soil.
Store only the healthiest potatoes in breathable sacks in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated area to keep them fresh for months. Avoid storing damaged or green potatoes, as they should be used immediately.
By following these tips, you’ll have a greater chance of growing larger, healthier potatoes that will thrive in your garden, whether in the ground or containers. Happy planting!