In My Seed Box For 2026 - Potatoes

Most companies historically dispatch & delivered around the end of January/ start of March. I have all the insulated chitting boxes made a couple of years ago ready to rock and roll. 

In the past I have been very lucky in that seed companies have supplied me with new varieties to trial and blog about and then I have topped up with some of my standard go too varieties.  

                                      List to be updated as ordered             

Code / Ref - Hyperlink  - First Early  - Company

Code / Ref - Hyperlink - Salad Potato - Company

Code / Ref - Hyperlink - Second Early - Company   

Code / Ref - Hyperlink  - Main Crop - Company

There are three main types of potato to grow, named according to when you plant and harvest them.

First early or ‘new’ potatoes are the earliest to crop, in June and July. They don't store for long so are best eaten fresh.

Second earlies (also called ‘new’ potatoes) take a few more weeks to mature and are harvested in July and August. These also don't store for long, so are best eaten fresh. Salad potatoes have a firm, waxy texture and many have an intense, nutty flavour. They are usually first earlies or second earlies.

Maincrop potatoes take the longest to mature and are harvested from August to October. They are suitable for baking, roasting and mashing, and can be stored for a few months.

First early potatoes

First early or 'new' potatoes are so-called because they are the earliest to crop, in June. They take 10-12 weeks to mature. Plant 30cm apart, with 60cm between rows, around 12cm deep.

Plant: March (with frost protection)
Harvest: June and July
Recommended varieties: 'Arron Pilot', 'Red Duke of York', 'Lady Christl', 'Orla' and 'Rocket'.

Second early potatoes

Second early potatoes take 14-16 weeks to mature. As with first earlies, plant them 30cm apart, in rows 60cm apart, 12cm deep.

Plant: March (with frost protection)
Harvest: July and August
Recommended varieties: 'Charlotte', 'Maris Peer', 'Ratte'

Maincrop potatoes

Maincrops take 16-22 weeks to mature. Plant 40cm deep, in rows 75cm apart, at a depth of 12cm.

Plant: mid to late April
Harvest: August to October
Recommended varieties: 'Pink Fir Apple', 'Desiree', 'Cara', 'Helidi Red', 'Maris Piper', 'King Edward', 'Sarpo Mira'

Salad potatoes

Salad potatoes share a firm, waxy texture and many have an intense, nutty flavour, perfect with a knob of melted butter or cold in a potato salad. They are usually first earlies or second earlies.

In My Seed Box For 2026 - Index