Potatoes in Brighton
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
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Growing first early potatoes (new potatoes) outdoors in the ground for an early summer harvest.
1 Chit Seed Potatoes
Begin chitting your first early seed potatoes in late winter. Place the seed potatoes rose-end up in a cool, light place (such as an egg carton on a windowsill) to encourage sturdy sprouts before planting.
2 Plant First Early Potatoes
Plant the chitted first earlies outside. Dig a trench about deep and incorporate some well-rotted manure or fertiliser. Place the seed potatoes with sprouts facing up, spaced apart in rows apart. Cover them with soil and water in. If frost threatens, cover the emerging shoots with fleece or earth them up to protect them.
3 Earth Up
When the potato shoots reach about 15–20cm tall, mound soil up around the stems. This 'earthing up' protects developing tubers from light and insulates the young plants from late frosts. Repeat every couple of weeks, covering the stems and leaving just the top of growth exposed, until the ridge is about high or plants begin to flower.
4 Harvest
April in Brighton is when your first early potatoes are typically ready to harvest. Once the plants start flowering or the foliage begins to yellow, use a fork to gently dig up the tubers. These 'new' potatoes have thin skins and are best eaten fresh soon after harvesting rather than stored.
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.
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