Potatoes in Birmingham
Solanum tuberosum
A staple root vegetable grown from seed potatoes, producing tubers underground. In the UK, potatoes are classified as first earlies, second earlies, or maincrop, each with different planting and harvesting times. They thrive in well-drained soil and full sun, and require earthing up to protect tubers from light.
Growing Guide
Step-by-step instructions for growing Potato
Planting Calendar
Growing Guide for
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Grow first early potatoes for a quick harvest of new potatoes in early summer. Plant in spring and harvest when the plants start to flower.
1 Chit Seed Potatoes
Place seed potatoes eyes-up in egg boxes in a cool, light place like a windowsill from 3rd March - 17th March. This encourages sturdy shoots to form over 4–6 weeks before planting.
2 Plant Outdoors
Plant chitted potatoes in trenches or containers from 31st March - 14th April. Space them apart and cover with of soil. Protect early shoots with fleece if frost is forecast.
3 Earth Up
Draw soil up around the stems as they grow from 28th April - 2nd June. This prevents tubers turning green and toxic, and protects shoots from late frosts. Repeat every few weeks until the mound is about high.
4 Water and Feed
Water regularly to keep the soil moist, especially when tubers are swelling from 12th May - 16th June. Apply a balanced liquid feed every 14 days to support growth.
5 Harvest First Earlies
Harvest new potatoes from 16th June - 6th July when the plants start to flower. Use a fork to gently lift the tubers, taking care not to damage them. Eat fresh as they don't store well.
Companion Plants
Plants that grow well (or poorly) with Potato
Plants to Avoid
Pumpkin
Pumpkins have vigorous growth that can smother potato plants and compete for space and nutrients.
Squash
Squash plants spread widely and can overshadow potatoes, reducing their sunlight and growth.
Tomato
Tomatoes and potatoes are both susceptible to blight and can spread the disease to each other.
Why Companion Planting Matters
Companion planting can help deter pests, improve pollination, enhance growth, and maximize garden space. Some plants release chemicals that repel pests or attract beneficial insects, while others can improve soil quality or provide shade for sensitive plants.
Suggested Varieties
Popular varieties of Potato to consider
Charlotte
A popular salad potato with waxy, yellow flesh that holds its shape well when boiled. It's reliable in UK conditions and produces a good crop of uniform tubers.
Maris Piper
A classic maincrop variety that's widely grown for its versatility and good blight resistance. It's excellent for roasting, chipping and mashing.
Rocket
An early variety that produces quick crops of white-fleshed potatoes, often ready by June. It's a good choice for gardeners wanting new potatoes early in the season.
King Edward
A heritage maincrop with distinctive pink eyes and floury white flesh that's ideal for baking and roasting. It stores well and performs reliably across the UK.
Pink Fir Apple
An unusual heritage variety with long, knobbly tubers and waxy, flavoursome flesh. It's prized for salads and holds up well in cooler UK summers.
Cara
A red-skinned maincrop with good resistance to common scab and drought tolerance. It produces large, floury tubers that are good for baking and mashing.
Related Plants
Explore similar plants you might like
Peas
A cool-season legume grown for its sweet pods or shelling peas. In the UK, peas thrive in early spring and autumn, needing support and protection from pests like mice and pigeons.
Pumpkin
Pumpkins are vigorous annual vines grown for their large, colourful autumn fruits. They thrive in warm, sunny conditions and produce long, sprawling stems that can easily run several metres. Pumpkins are frost-tender and need a good, rich soil and consistent watering through summer. With enough warmth and space, they reward you with hard-skinned fruits that store well and are ideal for both cooking and seasonal decoration.
Squash
Squash come in summer and winter types, offering versatile fruits from tender courgette-like harvests to hard-skinned varieties that store through winter. They're vigorous plants that love sun and rich soil, producing colourful, flavourful crops perfect for roasting, soups, or stuffing. With trailing or compact options, there's a squash for every garden size.