Potatoes in Birmingham
Solanum tuberosum
Potatoes are popular tuberous vegetables that are easy to grow and provide a versatile harvest for the kitchen. They are herbaceous perennials grown as annuals, native to South America and part of the nightshade family (Solanaceae). UK gardeners typically group potatoes by harvest time: first earlies (new potatoes), second earlies, and maincrop. First and second earlies produce smaller 'new' potatoes earlier in the summer, while maincrop varieties mature later and yield larger potatoes for storage. Potatoes grow best in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Regular watering and 'earthing up' (mounding soil around the stems) as they grow will help produce a good crop and prevent tubers from turning green.
Growing Guide
Step-by-step instructions for growing Potato
Planting Calendar
Growing Guide for
Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.
Growing second early potatoes outdoors for a summer harvest.
1 Chit Seed Potatoes
Chit your second early seed potatoes before planting. Place them in a single layer somewhere cool and light for a few weeks to develop sturdy sprouts.
2 Plant Second Earlies
Plant your chitted second earlies in prepared soil outside. Bury the tubers about deep and space them apart, with roughly between rows. Cover the seed potatoes with soil, firm gently, and water them in. Provide fleece protection if a late frost is forecast.
3 Earth Up
As the second early potato shoots grow to ~15cm, periodically hill up soil around their stems. This protects the young potatoes from sunlight and supports the plant. Continue earthing up every week or two until flowering, leaving just the tops of the plants exposed each time.
4 Harvest
By July to August in Birmingham, your second early potatoes should be ready to lift. The plants will have flowered and may start to yellow. Gently dig up the tubers and allow them to dry for a few hours before storing. Second earlies are often enjoyed fresh but can be stored for a short period in a cool, dark place.
Companion Plants
Plants that grow well (or poorly) with Potato
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.
Related Plants
Explore similar plants you might like
Peas
Peas are a fantastic vegetable to grow in your UK garden, giving you sweet, fresh pods that taste way better than shop-bought ones. You can choose from shelling types for those juicy peas inside, or mangetout and sugar snaps to munch the whole pod. They're great for beginners, fix nitrogen in the soil to help other plants, and work well in beds or pots.
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.
Sprouting Broccoli
Sprouting broccoli is a hardy and nutritious vegetable that produces multiple tender spears with small clusters of purple or white buds, offering repeated harvests in late winter and early spring when fresh produce is scarce. It's easy to grow in the UK, thriving in cool conditions and providing vitamins A, C, and folic acid. Unlike standard broccoli, it focuses on side shoots rather than a single large head, extending the picking season for weeks.