SPUDS YOU’LL LIKE... IN POTS
EVERY guide to growing your own vegetables will tell you to plant seed potatoes in early spring for a crop that’s ready for harvesting in summer. There’s nothing wrong with that advice, but I’m going to let you in on a secret. It’s possible to enjoy your spuds in autumn and winter by planting special tubers in summer.
Many suppliers stock a selection of seed potatoes (despite their name, these aren’t seeds, but small tubers) that have been kept in cold store since winter to prevent them growing. After planting, they’ll grow vigorously in warm weather and usually be ready for harvesting about 14 weeks later.
Sadly, the choice of varieties isn’t as wide as the range found earlier in the season, but there are some good ones available.
Among the first and second early types that are offered are ‘Charlotte’, ‘Duke of York’ and ‘Maris Peer’.
As far as I’m concerned, the easiest way to grow a later crop of potatoes is to plant them in pots. Start by adding a 4in layer of multi-purpose compost to a 15in-wide pot, then set three tubers evenly over the surface – unlike those planted in spring, there’s no need for chitting (sprouting) the tubers first.
Cover the first layer of tubers with a 2in layer of compost, then add three more on top. Cover again with compost, water and place the container in a sunny spot. When the plants are 8in high, pour in compost to cover half the foliage. Add more regularly, stopping when you’re close to the top of the pot. Containers will be fine outdoors in summer and early autumn, but will need to be placed in a more sheltered position as soon as there’s any whiff of frost. Move to an unheated greenhouse, front porch, conservatory or cool front room – at this point keep the compost damp, taking care not to overwater.
Eventually, the haulm (all the leafy growth above ground) will produce flowers, turn yellow and start to die back. Remove the debris and add to the compost heap. If you are eager to tuck into your potatoes, place a plastic sheet on the floor, tip the pot on its side and sift through the compost to remove tubers.
Another option is to leave the spuds in situ and gather a few as required – they’ll keep for several months if you keep the compost dry. Some gardeners even like to wait until the festive period before decanting all of the tubers, allowing them to be served up on the Christmas dinner plate.