Welcome to our guide on planting potatoes, where we’ll walk you through the steps to grow your own delicious spuds right in your backyard. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, potatoes are a rewarding crop to cultivate. And the best part? You can find all the supplies you need, from seed potatoes to soil, right here at the Dutch. Let’s dig in and get those potatoes in the ground! 

1. Choosing the right potato.

For fresh new potatoes, choose first and second earlies. For perfect roast potatoes, go for maincrop varieties. To enjoy buttery spuds all winter, plant second croppers from June to late July. 

      2. Chitting your potatoes.

Begin chitting your seed potatoes a few weeks ahead of planting to allow shoots to emerge. Do this by placing your seed potatoes in a cool, well-lit place with no risk of frost. 

      3. Planting your Potatoes

Plant before chits grow too long, in rich, fertile soil with good drainage. You can easily plant potatoes in your vegetable patch or a container from mid-March onwards. 

      4. Care for your potatoes

Keep the soil well watered and expect shoots in about three to four weeks, or sooner in warmer soil. Once shoots emerge, gently cover them with more soil to protect shallow tubers from the sunlight.   

     5. Harvest your potatoes!

The first earlies should be ready to dig up  8 – 12 weeks after planting, and the second earlies should be ready a few weeks after that! Maincrop Potatoes will be ready to harvest once the foliage begins to die back naturally.   

With these simple steps, you’re well on your way to harvesting your own homegrown potatoes. Whether you’re dreaming of creamy mashed potatoes, crispy roasted wedges, or hearty potato soup, there’s nothing quite like the taste of freshly dug spuds from your own garden. If you still would like help or advice, our friendly team of experts at the Dutch would be happy to help. Happy planting!