How to Grow Potatoes UK

Potatoes are one of the most productive crops you can grow in a UK garden — easy to plant, satisfying to harvest, and endlessly versatile in the kitchen.

Not sure when to plant? See our When to Plant Potatoes UK →

Potato Growing Calendar

Task	Timing	Notes
Chit seed potatoes	Late January – February	Place rose-end up in egg boxes in a cool, light, frost-free spot
Plant first earlies	Late March – April	After last hard frost; soil 7°C+
Plant second earlies	April	2 weeks after first earlies
Plant maincrops	April – May	Space 35–38cm apart in rows 75cm apart
Earth up	May – June	Draw soil up around stems as they grow; repeat 2–3 times
Harvest first earlies	June – July	When flowers open or fall; test by lifting one plant
Harvest maincrops	August – October	After foliage dies back; cure before storing

Chitting and Planting

Chitting (pre-sprouting) gives seed potatoes a head start. Stand tubers rose-end up in egg boxes in a cool, bright, frost-free location from late January. By planting time, sprouts should be 1–2cm long and dark green — not pale and leggy.

Plant in trenches 10–15cm deep using a trenching spade for clean, even rows. First earlies: 30cm apart, rows 60cm apart. Maincrops: 35–38cm apart, rows 75cm apart. Cover with soil and begin earthing up as shoots emerge. Earthing up prevents greening (which makes potatoes toxic) and increases yield.

Growing Conditions

Soil

Potatoes prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.0–6.0. This also helps reduce scab. Dig in plenty of well-rotted compost or manure in autumn before planting. Avoid liming potato beds — alkaline soil encourages common scab.

Position

Open, sunny site with good air circulation. Avoid frost pockets — late frosts can blacken emerging shoots. If frost is forecast after planting, earth up or cover with fleece overnight.

Watering

Water regularly once tubers begin to form (after flowering). Inconsistent watering causes hollow heart and cracking. Maincrops need 2–3 good waterings per week in dry spells. Reduce watering as foliage begins to die back.

Best Varieties

Rocket (First Early)

One of the fastest-maturing varieties — ready in as little as 10 weeks. Smooth white skin, good flavour. Ideal for new potato salads.

Charlotte (Second Early)

Waxy, salad-type potato with excellent flavour. Very reliable and widely grown. RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Desiree (Maincrop)

Red-skinned, versatile maincrop. Good blight tolerance. Excellent for roasting, mashing, and chips.

Sarpo Mira (Maincrop)

Outstanding blight resistance — the best choice for organic growers or wet regions. Heavy cropper with good flavour.

Regional Timing

Region	First Earlies	Maincrops
South England	Late March	Mid-April
Midlands / Wales	Early April	Late April
North England	Mid-April	Early May
Scotland	Late April – early May	Mid-May; choose blight-resistant varieties

What You'll Need for a Heavy Potato Harvest

A good trenching spade is essential for opening clean, even drills at the right depth — it makes planting faster and reduces tuber damage at harvest. Pair it with a sturdy ridging or flat hoe for earthing up throughout the season; this single task has the biggest impact on your final yield.

Browse our full range of Hand Tools for Gardening to find the right spade and hoe for your plot size.

Top 3 Mistakes to Avoid

Not earthing up. Failing to earth up allows tubers to be exposed to light, turning them green and toxic. Use a ridging hoe to draw soil up every 2–3 weeks as stems grow, leaving only the top few leaves showing.
Planting into cold, wet soil. Seed potatoes planted into soil below 7°C rot rather than sprout. Wait for soil to warm, or warm it with black polythene for 2 weeks before planting.
Ignoring blight in wet summers. Potato blight spreads explosively in warm, humid conditions. Monitor forecasts, remove and bin affected haulm immediately, and choose blight-resistant varieties (Sarpo Mira, Setanta) in high-risk areas.

Companion Planting

Horseradish — traditionally planted at corners of potato beds; said to deter Colorado beetle
Marigolds (Tagetes) — deter aphids and whitefly; attract beneficial insects
Nasturtiums — act as a trap crop for aphids
Avoid tomatoes — both are in the Solanaceae family and share blight; keep well separated
Avoid fennel — inhibits potato growth

Main Pest & Disease Risk

Potato blight (Phytophthora infestans) is the most serious threat — brown patches on leaves spread rapidly in warm, wet weather, eventually rotting tubers in the ground. Choose resistant varieties, remove affected haulm immediately, and never compost blighted material. Slugs tunnel into tubers, especially in wet seasons — use biological nematode control (Nemaslug) from June. Common scab causes rough, corky patches on skin — not harmful but unsightly; avoid liming and maintain soil moisture during tuber formation.

🌱 Did You Know?

The UK grows around 5 million tonnes of potatoes per year, making it one of the country's most important arable crops. The average British person eats around 100kg of potatoes annually — in all forms from chips to crisps. Home-grown new potatoes, eaten within hours of lifting, have a flavour that no supermarket variety can match.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant potatoes in the UK?

First early potatoes are planted from late March in southern England, progressing to mid-April in the north and late April in Scotland. Second earlies follow 2 weeks later, and maincrops are planted from mid-April to May. Always wait until soil temperature reaches 7°C and the risk of hard frost has passed.

Do I need to chit potatoes before planting?

Chitting is not strictly necessary but gives potatoes a head start, especially in cooler regions. Stand seed potatoes rose-end up in egg boxes in a cool, bright, frost-free spot from late January. By planting time, sprouts should be 1–2cm long. Chitting is most beneficial for first earlies where every week counts.

Why are my potato leaves turning yellow?

Yellowing leaves in late summer are normal — it signals that the plant is dying back and tubers are maturing. If yellowing occurs earlier in the season, check for blight (brown patches, white mould on leaf undersides), magnesium deficiency (yellowing between veins), or waterlogging. Blight requires immediate action; remove and bin affected haulm.

How do I prevent potato blight?

Choose blight-resistant varieties (Sarpo Mira, Setanta, Cara), ensure good air circulation by spacing plants correctly, avoid overhead watering, and monitor blight forecasts (available via the Blightwatch service). Remove and bin — never compost — any affected haulm immediately. Rotate potato crops on a 3–4 year cycle.

When are potatoes ready to harvest?

First earlies are ready 10–12 weeks after planting, typically June–July, when flowers open or fall. Test by lifting one plant — if tubers are marble-sized, wait another week. Maincrops are ready from August onwards, after the foliage has died back completely. Leave in the ground for 2 weeks after the haulm dies to toughen the skins before lifting.

What is the best tool for earthing up potatoes?

A ridging hoe or a flat draw hoe is the most effective tool for earthing up — the angled blade lets you pull soil up around the stems in one smooth motion without disturbing the roots. A standard garden hoe works too, but a dedicated ridging hoe makes the job significantly faster on longer rows. Browse our Hand Tools for Gardening to find the right hoe for your plot.