Few crops are as satisfying to harvest as potatoes. Easy to grow, highly productive, and excellent for crop rotation, they’re a cornerstone of most allotments. With a little preparation and the right timing, you can enjoy homegrown potatoes from early summer right through to autumn.
Quick Facts
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| When to Plant | March to May |
| Chitting Time | 4–6 weeks before planting |
| Time to Harvest | 10–20 weeks (depending on variety) |
| Ideal Soil | Moist, well-drained, rich in organic matter |
| Position | Full sun |
| Spacing | 30cm apart, 60–70cm between rows |
Preparing the Soil
Potatoes prefer fertile, slightly acidic soil with good drainage. Dig over the bed in late winter or early spring and incorporate plenty of well-rotted manure or compost.
Avoid freshly manured soil at planting time — the best results come from soil enriched the previous autumn.
Before planting, chit your seed potatoes by placing them in trays in a bright, cool, frost-free room for about four weeks until short green shoots appear.
Planting the Potatoes
Plant early varieties from March, and maincrop varieties in April or early May once the risk of frost has passed.
Dig trenches around 10–15cm deep, spacing seed potatoes about 30cm apart, with shoots facing up.
Cover lightly with soil and water well.
Watering and Feeding
Potatoes need consistent moisture, especially during tuber formation.
Water deeply every few days in dry weather, and mulch the soil to retain moisture.
Feed every two to three weeks with a balanced fertiliser or liquid seaweed feed once foliage is established.
Earthing Up
As shoots grow to around 20cm tall, gently mound soil up around the base of each plant to cover the lower stems and developing tubers.
Repeat this process two or three times during growth. Earthing up protects young potatoes from sunlight (which turns them green and inedible) and helps increase yield.
Harvesting
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First Earlies: Ready 10–12 weeks after planting (usually June–July).
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Second Earlies: 13–15 weeks after planting (July–August).
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Maincrop: 18–20 weeks after planting (August–October).
Harvest on a dry day using a fork to lift the plants carefully, starting from the edge of the bed. Allow potatoes to dry before storing them in hessian sacks or boxes in a cool, dark place.
Common Problems and Solutions
| Problem | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Blight | Fungal disease in wet summers | Choose resistant varieties, remove infected foliage |
| Scab | Dry or alkaline soil | Maintain even moisture, avoid liming soil |
| Wireworm | Pest in grassy soil | Rotate crops, dig over soil in winter |
| Green potatoes | Exposure to sunlight | Keep tubers covered with soil or mulch |
Companion Planting Tips
Potatoes grow well alongside beans, cabbage, and corn. Avoid planting near tomatoes or aubergines, as they can share similar diseases like blight.
Using the Allotment Planner Tool
You can map out your potato rows, spacing, and rotation cycles directly in the Allotment Planner tool.
This helps you visualise planting density and ensure you’re not growing potatoes in the same spot year after year.
FAQs
When should I plant potatoes?
Plant from March onwards once the soil has warmed and is easy to work.
How do I know when to harvest potatoes?
Earlies are ready when the flowers open; maincrops when the foliage begins to die back.
Can I grow potatoes in bags or containers?
Yes — they grow brilliantly in potato bags, buckets, or tubs filled with compost.
Should I chit my seed potatoes?
Yes — chitting gives plants a head start and encourages stronger early growth.
What are the best potato varieties for allotments?
‘Charlotte’, ‘Maris Piper’, and ‘Desiree’ are dependable and widely grown in the UK.