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.
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 outdoors | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Harvest | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Growing guide
Step-by-step instructions for growing Potato
Growing guide for
Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.
Growing second early potatoes outdoors for a summer harvest.
01
Chit Seed Potatoes
1 Mar to 31 MarChit 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.
02
Plant Second Earlies
3 May to 24 MayPlant 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.
03
Earth Up
27 May to 8 JulAs 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.
04
Harvest
5 Aug to 2 SeptBy August to September in Durham, 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
Tap a plant to see why it works (or doesn't) with Potato.
Good companions
Plants to avoid
Why companion planting matters
Companion planting can deter pests, improve pollination, and make better use of space. Some plants confuse pests or attract beneficial insects; others improve soil or offer shade to neighbours that need it.
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.
Related plants
Explore similar plants you might like
Potato guides by town
See how Potato timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.