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.
When to plant Potatoes in Durham
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.
60 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water
Calibrated to Durham · last frost ≈ 10 May
| Activity | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow indoors | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Plant out | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Harvest | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Growing guide
What to do through the growing season
Growing guide for
Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.
Grow maincrop potatoes for a larger yield that stores well through winter. Plant in spring and leave in the ground until autumn.
01
Chit Seed Potatoes
15 Mar to 29 MarPlace seed potatoes eyes-up in egg boxes in a cool, light place from 15th March - 29th March. This encourages sturdy shoots over 4–6 weeks before planting.
02
Plant Outdoors
12 Apr to 10 MayPlant chitted potatoes in trenches or containers from 12th April - 10th May. Space them apart and cover with of soil. If frost threatens after planting, cover emerging shoots with fleece or draw soil over them to protect them.
03
Earth Up
3 May to 2 Aug Dates as each sowing reaches this stageDraw soil up around the stems as they grow from 3rd May - 2nd August. This prevents tubers turning green and toxic. Build the mound to about high over several weeks.
04
Water and Feed
17 May to 23 Aug Dates as each sowing reaches this stage Optional · repeat every 3 weeksWater regularly to keep the soil moist, especially during dry spells from 17th May - 23rd August. Apply a high-potash feed every 21 days to encourage tuber development.
05
Harvest Maincrop
10 Aug to 16 Oct Dates as each sowing reaches this stageHarvest from 10th August - 16th October after the foliage has completely died back. Leave the tubers in the ground for a few weeks after this to set the skins for storage. Lift carefully with a fork and store in a cool, dark place.
Suggested varieties
Popular varieties of Potato to consider
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.
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Calabrese
Sow indoors March to April, plant out May to June, harvest July to October. Frost risk October to May.
Potato guides by town
See how Potato timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.