How to Grow Potatoes in February: Tips, Advice, and the Best Varieties

How to Grow Potatoes in February: Tips, Advice, and the Best Varieties

Potatoes are a beloved staple crop that is easy to grow and incredibly rewarding to harvest. Planting potatoes in February gives them an early start, particularly in regions with mild winters or for gardeners using greenhouses, polytunnels, or cloches. With the right care and techniques, you can enjoy a plentiful harvest of delicious, homegrown potatoes.

This guide will take you through everything you need to know about growing potatoes in February, from selecting the best varieties to planting, caring for, and harvesting.

Introduction: Why Grow Potatoes in February?

February is an excellent time to begin preparing for your potato crop. While outdoor planting may still be too early in colder regions, February is ideal for chitting your seed potatoes to give them a head start. In milder climates or protected environments, early potato varieties can even be planted under cover this month.

Potatoes are versatile, easy to grow, and suitable for a variety of dishes. Whether you’re growing them in the ground, raised beds, or containers, starting early can result in a productive and delicious harvest.

1. Choosing the Best Potato Varieties

Potatoes are categorized into three types: first earlies, second earlies, and maincrop, each with its own growing timeline and culinary uses. Here are some of the best varieties to plant in February:

1.1 First Earlies (Early Harvests)

‘Rocket’: A fast-growing variety with smooth, white skins and creamy flesh.
‘Lady Christl’: Known for its excellent flavor and early cropping.
‘Swift’: One of the earliest varieties to mature, ideal for salads and steaming.

1.2 Second Earlies (Mid-Season Harvests)

‘Charlotte’: A popular salad potato with waxy, flavorful flesh.
‘Maris Peer’: Produces consistent yields and great-tasting tubers.
‘Kestrel’: Resilient against pests and diseases, with firm, smooth-textured potatoes.

1.3 Maincrop (Late Harvests)

‘King Edward’: A classic roasting potato with fluffy, white flesh.
‘Maris Piper’: Ideal for chips and mash, with a high dry matter content.
‘Desiree’: A red-skinned variety with versatile cooking uses.

2. Preparing Your Seed Potatoes

2.1 Chitting Potatoes

Chitting encourages seed potatoes to sprout before planting, giving them a head start. Here’s how to do it:

Place seed potatoes in a cool, bright location, such as a windowsill or frost-free greenhouse.
Position them with the “rose end” (the end with the most eyes) facing upward.
Leave them to sprout for 4–6 weeks until the shoots are 1–2 cm long.

3. Planting Potatoes in February

3.1 Where to Plant

In milder regions or under cover, first earlies can be planted directly in the soil.
Use containers, grow bags, or raised beds for colder climates to protect young plants.

3.2 Preparing the Soil

Potatoes thrive in fertile, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH (5.0–6.0).
Dig over the soil and enrich it with well-rotted compost or manure.

3.3 Planting Process

Dig Trenches: Create trenches 4–6 inches deep, spaced 2–3 feet apart.
Place Seed Potatoes: Space them 12 inches apart in the trench, with the sprouts facing upward.
Cover with Soil: Fill the trench back in, lightly mounding the soil over the top.

4. Growing Potatoes in Containers

Potatoes grow exceptionally well in containers, making them a great choice for small gardens or patios.

Use large pots or grow bags with a depth of at least 12–15 inches.
Place 3–5 seed potatoes in each container and cover them with 4–6 inches of compost.
As the plants grow, add more compost to cover the stems, leaving just the top leaves exposed.

5. Caring for Your Potato Plants

5.1 Watering

Water regularly, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.
Increase watering as plants start flowering, as this is when tubers are forming.

5.2 Feeding

Apply a balanced fertilizer at planting time.
Use a high-potash feed, such as a tomato fertilizer, during tuber development.

5.3 Earthing Up

As plants grow, mound soil or compost around the stems to protect developing tubers from sunlight and promote higher yields.
Repeat this process until the mounds are 8–12 inches high.

6. Common Pests and Diseases

6.1 Pests

Potato Blight: Use blight-resistant varieties and avoid overhead watering. Remove and destroy infected plants.
Slugs: Protect plants with organic barriers or traps.
Wireworms: Avoid planting potatoes in recently turned grassland.

6.2 Diseases

Scab: Prevent by maintaining consistent soil moisture and choosing resistant varieties.
Blackleg: Remove and destroy affected plants to prevent the spread of this bacterial disease.

7. Harvesting Potatoes

7.1 When to Harvest

First Earlies: Harvest 10–12 weeks after planting when flowers begin to appear.
Second Earlies: Harvest 12–14 weeks after planting.
Maincrop: Harvest 16–20 weeks after planting when the foliage has died back.

7.2 How to Harvest

Use a garden fork to carefully lift the plants, starting at the edge of the row.
Shake off excess soil and gather the tubers by hand to avoid damage.

7.3 Storing Potatoes

Cure freshly harvested potatoes in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks to toughen their skins.
Store in a cool, dry, dark location in breathable bags or boxes for long-term storage.

8. Benefits of Growing Potatoes

High Yields: A small planting can produce a significant harvest.
Versatility: Perfect for boiling, roasting, frying, and baking.
Nutritional Value: Rich in vitamins C and B6, potassium, and dietary fiber.
Soil Improvement: The deep growth habit helps break up compacted soil.

Conclusion: Start Growing Potatoes for a Reliable and Delicious Crop

Growing potatoes in February is a fantastic way to kickstart your gardening season. By choosing the right varieties, preparing your soil, and following these care tips, you’ll enjoy a productive crop of tasty potatoes. Whether you’re growing first earlies for an early harvest or maincrop varieties for winter storage, potatoes are a rewarding and versatile addition to any garden.

Happy gardening! 🌱