How to Grow Potatoes in the Garden

Potatoes can be grown in virtually all soil types providing they get some sun and are away from any obvious frost pockets. If you have particularly heavy soil, try diging in some well rotted compost during the autumn to help loosen and lighten the soil. For those with lighter soil the addition of manure and compost at this stage will give the soil body and prevent the loss of vital nutrients during the growth stage.

You will not need to add any lime to the soil as potatoes like soil that is slightly acidic with a pH of around 5.5 - 6.0. It is also important to ensure that you rotate where you grow your potatoes if you have grown seed potatoes before. It is advisable to never grow potatoes in the same plot 2 years in a row; many experts recommend that at least 3 seasons should pass before you grow potatoes in the same ground. This prevents a build up of pests and diseases which so often plague potato crops.

Potatoes are typically grown in rows or v-shaped trenches in a seed bed approximately 13cm deep. You should prepare your rows around march for early varieties, however the time to plant your potatoes may vary depending on you location and the type of potato you are growing. Maincrop potatoes should be planted around mid April and typically those in the northern counties would sow their potatoes a few weeks earlier than those in the south.

The spacing between your rows or drills will also vary depending on whether you are growing early or maincrop varieties. Leave a space of approximately 60cm for earlies and aound 75cm for maincrop potatoes. Like with container growing, your potatoes should be planted rose end up and covered with fine peat or soil once in the ground. once planted just ensure that they remain covered and protected by soil, remembering to water them thoroughly in dry weather, until the stems or haulms are around 20-25cm above ground.

At this stage you may want to remove any weeds that have emerged in-between the rows and draw the soil towards the plants from each side of the row to create a flat ridge that is around 15cm high. It will take approximately 10 - 12 weeks for early varieties to reach this stage, and for maincrop varieties will take a few weeks longer. With both varieties it is advisable to wait for a dry and relatively sunny day before digging up using a garden fork to gently pull the potato from the soil.

Once lifted, you should use your hands to remove any futher soil from the tubers, removing any diseased or rotten ones. The potatoes you intend to store should be left to dry out for a few hours before being packed away (which explains why you should try and do it on a dry day). Always ensure you dig up all your tubers no matter how small as if left they will continue to grow and attract diseases and pests.

Other Information

Our article on Growing Potatoes may help you select which variety of seed potatoes to grow, and gives helpful advice on chitting. You might also find the article about How to Grow Potatoes in Containers useful if you are short on space.