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 outdoors | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Harvest | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Growing guide
What to do through the growing season
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
23 Feb to 25 MarChit second-early seed potatoes around 23rd February - 25th March. Arrange them in a single layer somewhere cool and light for a few weeks so they develop short, sturdy shoots.
02
Plant Second Earlies
27 Apr to 18 MayPlant chitted second earlies around 27th April - 18th May in prepared soil. Set tubers deep and apart, with about between rows. Cover, firm gently and water in. Use fleece if a late frost is forecast.
03
Earth Up
11 May to 13 Jul Dates as each sowing reaches this stageAs 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
20 Jul to 7 Sept Dates as each sowing reaches this stageLift second-early potatoes through 20th July - 7th September once plants have flowered and the foliage starts to yellow. Dig carefully, allow tubers to dry for a few hours, then use fresh or store briefly somewhere cool and dark.
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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