Potatoes are relatively easy to grow, with one seed potato producing multiple potatoes for harvesting. To begin, prepare the soil and dig straight trenches, approximately 12cm deep and 60cm apart. Once ready, plant the seed potatoes 30cm apart, and cover them with soil. When the shoots reach 20cm in height, mound up the soil around the bases of the shoots, covering approximately half the stem. This is known as ‘earthing up’.
When is the best time to plant potatoes?
- First Earlies: It's best to plant first earlies by mid-March.
- Second Earlies: Plant a few weeks after first earlies.
- Maincrop: Plant in April or early May, spacing them 40cm apart with 75cm between rows.
How to chit potatoes
Chitting is a way of preparing potatoes for planting. To chit yours, simply cut the seed potato into sections, ensuring each has at least one ‘eye’. Each eye will produce a new shoot. Place them in a cool, bright place with the eyes facing up. Once shoots develop, they’re ready to plant.
How to plant potatoes
Seed potatoes do well in all soil types, but they will benefit from digging in plenty of well-rotted organic matter such as multi-purpose compost or farmyard manure. Always plant potatoes with the shoots (or 'eyes') facing upwards.
How to care for your crop
Our horticulturalist, Joe Hanrahan, advises watering potatoes during warm spells, but to avoid unnecessary wetting of the foliage. Joe says, “As the plants grow, it’s best to cover the shoots with soil, leaving the top few centimetres poking out as this will encourage ‘earthing up’. Repeat this process as the plants continue to grow.”
Potato blight
Potato blight can rot potato crops and it usually appears during wet summers, particularly in July or August. If detected, it’s best to remove affected foliage immediately to protect tubers.
How to prevent blight
- Grow early or blight-resistant varieties. The best blight-resistant potatoes are currently the 'Sarpo' cultivars, such as 'Sarpo Mira', 'Sarpo Axona' and 'Sarpo Blue Danube'.
- Be sure to order your potatoes from a reputable supplier that supplies certified disease-free seed potatoes. Do not plant with tubers from last year's crop, as this will significantly increase the risk of blight.
- Space plants well for airflow.
- Regularly remove infected material. Cut back infected stems and remove debris - do not compost.
To view our full collection of seed potatoes, please visit us in Ballygarvan or explore the seed potato selection on our website.