Potatoes are the cornerstone of the British diet thanks to their versatility. Whether mashed, fried, roasted, or sauteed, spuds have even more of an appeal when they are the product of your own garden.
The time it takes for potatoes to grow in the UK depends on the variety and when they are planted, and there are such things as early and late varieties.
Along with maincrop spuds, early ones can be sprouted inside before planting in the garden to give them a head start.
This process, known as ‘chitting’, is worthwhile if you have the time, said Julie Kendall, Garden Manager of the Eden Project.
She told Express.co.uk: “Now is the perfect time to start chitting your potatoes. This allows them to start to develop ahead of planting when the ground is warmer.”
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Early potatoes, also known as new potatoes, are potatoes that are planted early in the year and harvested in the summer. They are smaller in size than maincrop potatoes and can be used in many ways.
Maincrop potatoes are the largest you can grow and are ideal for baking, mashing, and roasting. They can take 15 to 20 weeks to reach full size.
Both benefit from chitting, but the Royal Horticultural Society suggests slightly different timings for each.
The gardening charity said: “Seed potatoes of early varieties should be started into growth indoors in February, planted out into the soil just before Easter, and lifted for eating in late June or early July.
“Maincrop varieties should be planted in early April again after sprouting indoors.”
As for how to “chit” homegrown spuds, the process is easy. You’ll need seed potatoes, egg boxes and plant labels before giving it a go.
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First, place the potatoes in trays or egg boxes with the blunt end facing up.
Put them in a cool, light, well-ventilated area, then wait for the spuds to develop short, strong shoots that are about 1.5 to 2.5cm long.
Potatoes are ready for planting when the sprouts have reached around 2cm in length, which will take approximately four to six weeks.
For an “extra early” crop, the RHS suggests planting chitted seed potatoes of early varieties at the beginning of March, into large containers in a frost-free greenhouse.
Ideally, they should be kept indoors in good light for a crop by about mid-May.
Finally, plant the potatoes outside when the worst of the frost has passed.
A sunny, open spot is best. Early and salad potatoes should be arranged in trenches with 30cm between each one, and 60cm between rows.
Maincrop potatoes should be planted 38cm apart, with 75cm between rows.
Cover with compost and water well, especially once the tubers have reached the size of marbles.
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