When to plant Potatoes in the UK

Solanum tuberosum

Potato
Potato · 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

Add to garden
Sow outdoors April to May, harvest July to September.
ActivityJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Sow outdoorsNoNoNoYesYesNoNoNoNoNoNoNo
HarvestNoNoNoNoNoNoYesYesYesNoNoNo

UK averages · set your town for dates worked out from your local frost records · how dates are worked out

Growing guide

What to do through the growing season

Dates for your town

Set your town to see planting windows worked out from local frost history, not a generic UK calendar.

Growing guide for the UK

Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.

Growing second early potatoes outdoors for a summer harvest.

  1. 01

    Chit Seed Potatoes

    late February to late March UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Chit second-early seed potatoes around late February to late March. Arrange them in a single layer somewhere cool and light for a few weeks so they develop short, sturdy shoots.

  2. 02

    Plant Second Earlies

    late April to mid-May UK average · set your town for your exact dates

    Plant chitted second earlies around late April to mid-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.

  3. 03

    Earth Up

    early May to mid-July UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    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. 04

    Harvest

    mid-July to early September UK average · set your town for your exact dates Dates as each sowing reaches this stage

    Lift second-early potatoes through mid-July to early 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

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.