Can I Grow Potatoes on My Allotment?

Introduction

Potatoes are a versatile and rewarding crop to grow on your allotment, providing a substantial harvest that can last well into the winter months. With a variety of types, from first earlies to maincrop potatoes, growing potatoes allows you to enjoy fresh, homegrown tubers suited to different culinary uses. Potatoes are also relatively easy to grow, making them a great choice for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. This guide will cover everything you need to know about growing potatoes on your allotment, including choosing varieties, planting, care, and harvesting tips.

1. Choosing the Right Potato Varieties

Potatoes come in different types, classified by their growing season and culinary uses. Choosing the right variety will depend on how you plan to use your potatoes and your local climate.

Types of Potatoes

First Earlies: These are the earliest potatoes, typically ready for harvest 10-12 weeks after planting. They are smaller, tender, and ideal for salads.
Second Earlies: Slightly later than first earlies, these potatoes mature in around 13-14 weeks. They are versatile and can be used for boiling or steaming.
Maincrop Potatoes: These are the largest and longest-growing potatoes, maturing in 15-20 weeks. They’re ideal for roasting, baking, and storing over winter.

Popular Varieties for Allotments

Charlotte (Second Early): A popular, waxy potato that’s perfect for salads and holds its shape well when cooked.
Maris Piper (Maincrop): Known for its versatility, Maris Piper is a favorite for roasting, frying, and mashing.
King Edward (Maincrop): A classic variety that produces fluffy, floury potatoes suitable for baking and roasting.

2. Preparing the Allotment for Planting Potatoes

Proper soil preparation is key to a successful potato crop, as potatoes thrive in nutrient-rich, well-drained soil.

Soil Preparation

Loosen the Soil: Dig over the soil to a depth of around 12-15 inches to create a loose, friable texture, which allows tubers to grow freely.
Add Organic Matter: Incorporate compost or well-rotted manure into the soil before planting. Potatoes are heavy feeders, so they benefit from nutrient-rich soil.

Improve Drainage if Necessary

Raised Beds for Wet Soils: If your soil is heavy clay or prone to waterlogging, consider planting in raised beds or ridging the soil to improve drainage.
Avoid Waterlogged Areas: Potatoes don’t tolerate soggy soil, so select an area of your allotment with good drainage.

3. Chitting Potatoes Before Planting

Chitting is the process of encouraging seed potatoes to sprout before planting, giving them a head start and improving yields.

How to Chit Potatoes

Place in a Cool, Light Location: Stand seed potatoes in egg cartons or shallow trays with the “eyes” (buds) facing upwards. Place them in a cool, bright area indoors, ideally around 10°C (50°F).
Wait for Sprouts to Develop: After 4-6 weeks, each potato should develop small, sturdy shoots about 1 inch long, making them ready for planting.

Benefits of Chitting

Improves Yield: Chitting allows potatoes to establish faster once planted, leading to a stronger, more productive plant.
Earlier Harvests: Chitting early varieties helps ensure an earlier harvest, perfect for summer salads and new potatoes.

4. Planting Potatoes on Your Allotment

Timing and spacing are important when planting potatoes, as they need enough room to grow and absorb nutrients from the soil.

When to Plant

First and Second Earlies: Plant these in early to mid-spring, once the risk of frost has passed, usually from March to April.
Maincrop Potatoes: These can be planted a little later, from mid to late spring, depending on local conditions.

Spacing and Depth

Trench Planting: Dig a trench about 6 inches deep and place seed potatoes with the shoots facing up, spaced about 12 inches apart for earlies and 15 inches apart for maincrop.
Row Spacing: Leave around 24-30 inches between rows to give plants room to grow and make harvesting easier.

Cover with Soil

Mound the Soil Over Tubers: Cover the potatoes with soil, filling in the trench. As plants grow, continue to mound soil around them, creating ridges to protect tubers from sunlight.

5. Caring for Potato Plants

Once your potatoes are planted, regular maintenance will help them thrive and produce a healthy crop.

Watering

Consistent Moisture: Potatoes need consistent moisture, especially during flowering, which is when tubers are forming. Avoid letting the soil dry out, but don’t overwater.
Water at the Base: Use a watering can or drip irrigation to water at the base of plants, avoiding wetting the leaves, which can reduce disease risk.

Fertilizing

Feed with High-Potassium Fertilizer: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early growth, followed by a high-potassium feed (like a tomato fertilizer) once plants are established.
Top Up with Compost: Mid-season, you can add a light top dressing of compost around the base of plants to keep them nourished.

Earthing Up

Preventing Green Potatoes: Continue to mound soil around the plants as they grow, covering the stems to protect developing potatoes from sunlight.
Repeat Every Few Weeks: Earthing up helps keep tubers out of sunlight and reduces the risk of greening, which can make potatoes toxic if eaten.

6. Dealing with Pests and Diseases

Potatoes are susceptible to pests and diseases, especially blight. Regular monitoring and preventive care help protect your crop.

Common Potato Pests

Potato Blight: A fungal disease that causes dark spots on leaves and tubers. Plant blight-resistant varieties if possible and remove affected plants promptly.
Potato Cyst Nematodes: These tiny worms damage roots and reduce yields. Rotate potato planting areas yearly to reduce nematode risk.
Slugs and Wireworms: Use organic slug control methods, such as beer traps, and consider growing potatoes in raised beds to deter wireworms.

Preventive Measures

Crop Rotation: Rotate your potato patch each year to prevent soil-borne diseases and pest buildup.
Remove and Destroy Infected Plants: Dispose of any diseased plant material away from the allotment to prevent spreading.

7. Harvesting and Storing Potatoes

Knowing when and how to harvest potatoes will ensure you get the best quality tubers, with a long storage life for winter.

When to Harvest

First and Second Earlies: These can be harvested once the plants start flowering, usually 10-14 weeks after planting.
Maincrop Potatoes: Wait until the foliage has died back completely, typically 18-20 weeks after planting, for fully mature potatoes suitable for storage.

Harvesting Tips

Use a Fork to Lift Tubers: Carefully dig around the plants with a garden fork, lifting tubers without damaging them.
Leave to Dry Before Storing: Let harvested potatoes dry in the open air for a few hours to toughen the skins, which improves their storage life.

Storing Potatoes

Cool, Dark Storage: Store maincrop potatoes in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place, such as a cellar or shed. Use hessian or paper bags, as plastic bags can trap moisture.
Check Regularly for Spoilage: Inspect stored potatoes every few weeks and remove any that show signs of rot to prevent it from spreading to others.

Conclusion

Growing potatoes on your allotment is a satisfying and straightforward way to enjoy homegrown produce year-round. With careful planning, soil preparation, and regular care, you can grow a healthy crop of potatoes that will provide a delicious and versatile addition to your meals. By choosing the right varieties, preventing pests, and storing your harvest correctly, you’ll maximize your yield and enjoy the fruits of your labor long after the growing season ends. Potatoes are a valuable and versatile addition to any allotment, rewarding you with plentiful harvests and storage options.