Seed Potatoes

Potatoes are one of our staple foods and so easy to grow, even if you don't have a garden. Who doesn't love the first potatoes of the season just with butter and mint. They are grouped into First Earlies, Second Earlies and Main Crop. First Earlies are ready first and are the ones in the supermarket which are usually the most expensive so if you don't have a garden and are growing in containers I would go for these. Second Earlies crop inbetween First and Mains, finally we have Main Crop which are usually the heaviest croppers and usually better grown in the ground as they are fairly cheap to buy but that's no reason not to try.  Always buy seed potatoes from a reputable supplier, don't just use potatoes from the supermarket. There are masses of varieties to choose from; varieties specially for salads, chipping, roasting, mashing and baking so think about what you want from your spuds. Start with some well-rotted farmyard manure, add soil or compost, place the seed potato, cover with more soil and as it grows keep adding more soil until just the tops are visible. Click here to read the blog explaining how to grow potatoes.