Potatoes are one of the easiest and most rewarding vegetables to grow, but Alan Titchmarsh has some important tips to remember. The gardening icon says a 'critical' job must be done before August if you're growing potatoes.
Start with seed potatoes, not supermarket spuds
Potatoes are a particularly rewarding crop for novice vegetable gardeners. They are incredibly easy to grow and are considered one of the best plants for beginners. While it might be tempting to plant some spare spuds left over from your supermarket shop, it’s best to start with certified disease-free 'seed' potatoes rather than using old supermarket versions.
Earthing up is essential
The only thing you need to remember, once your potatoes are planted, is 'earthing up.' If potatoes aren’t kept well-covered, they can turn green and produce a toxic compound called solanine. As your young potato plant produces green leafy shoots, you should pile some more soil or compost around the base to encourage more tubers to develop.
Alan Titchmarsh explains: 'As the shoots grow and come up above the ground, you earth them up. You pull soil around them for two reasons. Reason one is to protect the shoots which are coming up when the frosts are still around. The soil will protect the tender shoots from frost.'
Harvest before August
If you’ve done all that, Alan says you should harvest your spuds before August begins. 'If you planted seed potatoes back in spring, this is the month where you can start to dig them up,' he says. 'A good rule of thumb is once the plants start to flower, that probably indicates there is a good harvest down underneath the soil.'
'It's the moment of truth,' Alan tells House Beautiful. 'If you've had fair weather, and the gardening gods are on your side, there will be rather a large crop of new potatoes at the end of each plant. But what's critical is the timing. Do it too soon and there won't be much there at all. Leave it too late, and you'll have whacking great spuds.'
New potatoes and main-crop varieties
New potatoes are the earliest to crop, and should be harvested before the end of July. They’re great in salads, but can also be par boiled, crushed and then popped into the oven as delicious mini-roasts. They don't store for very long though, so are best eaten fresh.
Then it’s time for your main-crop potatoes. Maris Pipers, King Edwards and Desirees, which should be planted in March, can be harvested in late summer or autumn – any time from August to October – and will store well over winter. They will last for months if placed in dry soil in a garden shed.
Storage tips from Tesco
A spokesperson from supermarket giant Tesco advises: 'By following a few simple steps, you can keep your potatoes nearly as fresh as the day you bought them, for up to six months. Your spuds need air circulation, so don't suffocate them in a plastic bag. They're best kept in a mesh or paper bag. It's also crucial that potatoes are stored away from other fresh produce, particularly onions, as they release ethylene gas.'
Alan returns this morning (Sunday, July 26) with Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh from 9.30am to 11.30am on ITV.
