Potatoes in Manchester
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.
Growing Guide
Step-by-step instructions for growing Potato
Planting Calendar
Growing Guide for
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Growing second early potatoes outdoors for a summer harvest.
1 Chit Seed Potatoes
Chit 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.
2 Plant Second Earlies
Plant 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.
3 Earth Up
As 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.
4 Harvest
By July to August in Manchester, 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
Plants that grow well (or poorly) with Potato
Plants to Avoid
Pumpkin
Pumpkins have vigorous growth that can smother potato plants and compete for space and nutrients.
Squash
Squash plants spread widely and can overshadow potatoes, reducing their sunlight and growth.
Tomato
Tomatoes and potatoes are both susceptible to blight and can spread the disease to each other.
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.
Suggested Varieties
Popular varieties of Potato to consider
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.
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
Peas
A cool-season legume grown for its sweet pods or shelling peas. In the UK, peas thrive in early spring and autumn, needing support and protection from pests like mice and pigeons.
Pumpkin
Pumpkins are vigorous annual vines grown for their large, colourful autumn fruits. They thrive in warm, sunny conditions and produce long, sprawling stems that can easily run several metres. Pumpkins are frost-tender and need a good, rich soil and consistent watering through summer. With enough warmth and space, they reward you with hard-skinned fruits that store well and are ideal for both cooking and seasonal decoration.
Squash
Squash come in summer and winter types, offering versatile fruits from tender courgette-like harvests to hard-skinned varieties that store through winter. They're vigorous plants that love sun and rich soil, producing colourful, flavourful crops perfect for roasting, soups, or stuffing. With trailing or compact options, there's a squash for every garden size.