Best Late Potatoes for Long Storage (UK Guide)
Late (maincrop) potatoes are ideal if you want a long-lasting potato supply through autumn and winter. They mature later in the season, develop firm skins, and store well when cured and kept in the right conditions.
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🌱 Compost & Soil Improvers
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🌿 Autumn Plant Feed & Fertiliser
Prepare your soil for autumn planting with suitable fertilisers and soil nutrients.
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🥬 Seed Trays & Propagation Kits
Keep growing through autumn by starting suitable hardy crops under cover.
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⭐ Recommended Products — Seed Potatoes & Planting Essentials
• Seed Potato Collection (Early, First & Second Earlies)
A mixed pack of quality seed potatoes to plant for a steady harvest from early summer through to autumn. Ideal if you want variety in size and maturity times.
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• Certified Seed Potatoes (Single Variety Packs)
Choose popular individual varieties (e.g., Maris Piper, Charlotte, King Edward) to suit your taste and growing goals — consistent results from true seed stock.
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• Potato Grow Bags / Containers
Reusable, breathable bags designed specifically for growing potatoes — great for patios, small gardens, or increasing yield in limited space.
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• Potato Fertiliser / Soil Booster
Specially formulated feed to support healthy tuber development and improve yields — apply at planting or as a top-dress during the season.
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• Potato Planting Guides & Markers
Helpful tools and guides that take you through planting depth, spacing, and care — plus reusable markers to keep track of different varieties.
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What Makes a Good Late Potato for Storage?
Great storage potatoes typically:
- Are maincrop varieties
- Produce firm, tough skin
- Resist disease (especially rot & blight)
- Store well in cool, dark, frost-free conditions
Best Late Potato Varieties for Long Storage (UK)
Maris Piper
One of the most popular UK potatoes for storage. Maris Piper has a high dry matter content, tough skin, and excellent flavour for roasting, mashing, chips and baking.
King Edward
A classic maincrop with fluffy flesh and rich flavour. King Edward stores well when cured and kept in cool, dark conditions.
Cara
A reliable maincrop with good resistance to blight and rot – ideal for wetter UK conditions. Cara stores well and produces consistent yields.
Desiree
A red-skinned maincrop that stores reliably. Desiree is versatile, good for roasting, boiling and baking, and holds up well in store.
Sarpo Mira
One of the top choices for disease resistance and storage longevity. Sarpo Mira’s strong foliage and blight-resistant genetics help protect tubers, making it excellent for long storage.
Setanta
A blight-tolerant maincrop that stores exceptionally well. Its even tuber size and firm skin make it a strong storage variety.
Santé
A maincrop variety bred for both yield and storage life. Santé stores well and handles cooler storage conditions.
How to Grow Potatoes for Long Storage
Planting Time
Maincrop potatoes are typically planted from early to mid-April in the UK once soil conditions improve and frost risk lessens.
Chitting
Chitting (pre-sprouting seed potatoes) helps get a head start and encourages robust early growth.
Soil & Feeding
- Use fertile, well-drained soil
- Work in organic matter (compost/manure) before planting
- Apply a balanced fertiliser at planting for strong tuber development
Earthing Up
Earth up plants as they grow to protect tubers from light and improve yields.
Watering
Water regularly in dry spells — consistent moisture helps tuber formation. Avoid waterlogging, which can reduce storage quality.
Harvesting for Storage
Harvest late potatoes when the foliage has completely died back. Leave tubers in the ground for a short period after foliage dies to allow the skin to toughen — this helps long storage.
Curing and Storing Potatoes
Curing
After lifting, cure potatoes in a cool, dark, frost-free place for 1–2 weeks. This toughens skins and improves storage life.
Storage Conditions
- Temperature: around 4–7°C
- Darkness: prevents greening
- Ventilation: reduces rot risk
- Avoid washing before storage — dirt helps protect tubers
Tips for Successful Storage
- Sort out damaged or blemished tubers before storing
- Check stored potatoes periodically and remove any that show rot
- Store varieties separately if possible
Why Grow Long-Storing Potatoes?
- Provides spuds through autumn & winter
- Reduces food waste
- Excellent value from a single sowing
- Great for home cooking year-round