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 Edinburgh
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 Edinburgh · average last frost around 4 May
| Activity | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow indoors | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Plant out | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Harvest | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Growing guide
What to do through the growing season
Growing guide for
Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.
Grow a late crop from cold-stored seed potatoes in bags, moving the plants into frost-free shelter before cold weather.
01
Chit Seed Potatoes
8 Jul to 28 JulPlace seed potatoes eyes-up in egg boxes in a cool, light place from 8th July - 28th July. This encourages sturdy shoots over 4–6 weeks before planting.
02
Plant in Bags
28 Jul to 17 AugPlant chitted potatoes in large bags or containers from 28th July - 17th August. Use compost and plant deep. Space bags in a sunny spot outdoors.
03
Earth Up and Water
18 Aug to 9 Nov Dates as each sowing reaches this stageAdd compost to earth up the stems as they grow from 18th August - 9th November. Water regularly to keep the compost moist, but avoid overwatering to prevent rot.
04
Move Indoors
2 Oct to 16 OctMove the bags into a frost-free greenhouse or shed from 2nd October - 16th October before the first autumn frost. This protects the plants and allows continued growth.
05
Harvest Late Potatoes
25 Nov to 14 Jan 2028 Dates as each sowing reaches this stageHarvest potatoes as needed through 25th November - 14th January 2028. Rummage gently in the bags to lift fresh tubers and use them promptly, as this crop does not store for long.
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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