Growing Potatoes


I am particularly looking forward to growing potatoes, one of the most satisfying and easy vegetables to grow( so they say), suitable for containers, pots, black bin liners (provided there are drainage holes), , grow bags, tyres, sheet composted raised beds, or in conventional gardens. Their yield is huge, they’re filling, full of nutrients and enjoyable.

There are basically 3 types of potatoes, 2 known as earlies, and the other known as the main crop. Apparently use seed potatoes as they are guaranteed virus free

If planting in pots or containers, it is rather important to remember they need holes in the bottom! Before, planting the potatoes, with both early or main crop it is advisable to ‘chit’ them, to speed up the growing. This means, leaving the potatoes in a cardboard box, or some such, in a warm sunny area, with the eyes uppermost to allow growth of the shoots which should take about 3weeks, when the shoots are about 1 inch, or 3cm long.


When ready the first early potatoes can be planted at the end of March/beginning of April, the second earlies, such as Charlotte or salad potatoes in early April, and the main crop near the end of April, when frosts are less likely. It is best to plant in a slightly shady area if possible. Planting can be continued until the end of May. If a frost is expected, the planted potatoes need to be covered and kept warm, then uncovered when it warms up again. For indoor containers, planting can be earlier.

If using containers, I have been advised to place a little compost, a short distance up the container, as potato roots are not that large. The potatoes are then planted and the shoots covered with compost . As they peep through, then more compost should be added and so on to encourage growth. When the early potatoes have started flowering they can be harvested. For main crop this will apparently be mid to end of June, when the flowering has finished and the foliage turns yellow. It is advised then to cut off the foliage, and then leave for 10 days before harvesting the tubers, allowing them to dry for a few hours before storing. The main crop harvesting should be completed before winter.


If planting in the garden and using the sheet compost method , either with bought or home made compost, once the layering has been completed, the potatoes should be planted in the same way as in the containers, covering the shoots first with compost until they come through, then adding more compost and so on. In both containers and the permaculture bed, straw can be placed on the compost to aid growth even more.

The watering should be adequate but not too much.

There are some predators that can be a nuisance, but there are ways of minimising that problem. I will, look that up when my planting has begun.

I am particularly looking forward to growing potatoes, one of the most satisfying and easy vegetables to grow( so they say), suitable for containers, pots, black bin liners (provided there are drainage holes), , grow bags, tyres, sheet composted raised beds, or in conventional gardens. Their yield is huge, they’re filling, full of nutrients and enjoyable.

There are basically 3 types of potatoes, 2 known as earlies, and the other known as the main crop. Apparently use seed potatoes as they are guaranteed virus free

If planting in pots or containers, it is rather important to remember they need holes in the bottom! Before, planting the potatoes, with both early or main crop it is advisable to ‘chit’ them, to speed up the growing. This means, leaving the potatoes in a cardboard box, or some such, in a warm sunny area, with the eyes uppermost to allow growth of the shoots which should take about 3weeks, when the shoots are about 1 inch, or 3cm long.


When ready the first early potatoes can be planted at the end of March/beginning of April, the second earlies, such as Charlotte or salad potatoes in early April, and the main crop near the end of April, when frosts are less likely. It is best to plant in a slightly shady area if possible. Planting can be continued until the end of May. If a frost is expected, the planted potatoes need to be covered and kept warm, then uncovered when it warms up again. For indoor containers, planting can be earlier.

If using containers, I have been advised to place a little compost, a short distance up the container, as potato roots are not that large. The potatoes are then planted and the shoots covered with compost . As they peep through, then more compost should be added and so on to encourage growth. When the early potatoes have started flowering they can be harvested. For main crop this will apparently be mid to end of June, when the flowering has finished and the foliage turns yellow. It is advised then to cut off the foliage, and then leave for 10 days before harvesting the tubers, allowing them to dry for a few hours before storing. The main crop harvesting should be completed before winter.

If planting in the garden and using the sheet compost method , either with bought or home made compost, once the layering has been completed, the potatoes should be planted in the same way as in the containers, covering the shoots first with compost until they come through, then adding more compost and so on. In both containers and the permaculture bed, straw can be placed on the compost to aid growth even more.

The watering should be adequate but not too much.

There are some predators that can be a nuisance, but there are ways of minimising that problem. I will, look that up when my planting has begun.