Harborne Hill Allotments Home Page

Soil Preparation

Dig over the plots in winter.

Potatoes are heavy feeders so well rotted manure makes a huge difference to the crop. If you do not have manure dig in as much homemade compost as possible.

When to Sow

First Earlies - March

Second Earlies / Salad - Late March- Early April

Main Crop - April

Sowing
Seed potatoes are normally available for collection in the shop by mid February.
When you collect your seed potatoes the first thing you need to do is "chit" them.
Chitting means allowing the seed potatoes to sprout before planting.
Each seed potato has a blunt end that has a number of 'eyes'.
Stand the tubers with the blunt end uppermost in trays or old egg boxes in a light frost free place

Prepare the plot by digging in plenty of manure if you have it and give it a dressing with a high potash fertiliser.Plant early potatoes about 30cm (12in) apart with 40-50cm (16-20in) between the rows, and second earlies and maincrops about 38cm (15in) apart with 75cm (30in) between the rows. Plant about 10cm deep.

Maintenance and Feeding

When the shoots appear eath up to produce a ridge.

Feed every 2 weeks with Liquid Comfrey if you have it.

When to harvest

First Earlies -June/July

Salad - July

Second Earlies - July/August

Main Crop - September/October

Varieties

There are many vaieties available, these are some that have been sold in the shop.

First Earlies -Accent, Lady Crystl, Arran Pilot

Salad - Charlotte

Second Earlies -Kestrel

Main Crop - Desiree , King Edward, Cara