The seed potatoes have arrived! And with that our thoughts turn to early spring and all of the things we are starting to look forward to as the days slowly start to lengthen. Close to the top of the list is definitely grow your own season.
We get our seed potatoes from John and Rachel up in North Yorkshire this time of year, and they certainly know a thing or two about top quality potato growing! They provide seed potatoes for professional growers all over the UK, so we’re all in very good hands.
February is the perfect time to start chitting your seed potatoes. Simply place them in an open box in indirect light and away from freezing temperatures, so they can start sprouting (aka ‘chitting’) with strong, sturdy shoots. These chits help speed up growth once they’re planted.
Planting can commence in late March or April, depending on if the weather is warm enough. It is generally recommended to plant potatoes once soil temperatures are above 10°C, and protect with fleece if any late frosts are forecast as they are not a frost tolerant crop.
Whilst it is still a bit too early to sow most seeds, it is the perfect time to take stock, make some plans for what you would like to grow, and to top up the collection, whether you grow on an allotment, garden, a patio or balcony, or even some herbs and greens on a sunny windowsill.
We get most of our seeds from Tamar Organics, who started as a small organic market garden in 1994, and then in 2000 became one of the first UK companies to offer organic seeds. They now have an impressive and extensive range of vegetable, herb and flower seeds on offer.
We also stock seeds from the Italian producer, Franchi. Whilst they are not certified organic, they source a wide variety of high quality, good value and open pollinated varieties of seeds.
Happy chitting and sowing!
