Potato planter

Growing potatoes is easy and you'll be harvesting a healthy crop of home grown potatoes from just 16 weeks if you follow these simple instructions.

Sprouting (or chitting) your seed potatoes couldn't be easier - they'll do it for you as long as they're in a light, cool area, and protected from frost. We recommend placing them in an egg box and putting it on the windowsill, the sprouts will form within a few weeks, and then they're ready to be planted (as a guide line, the sprouts should be 5cm (2") long).

Planting can take place as soon as the risk of frost has passed in your area, during spring, typically between March & May. Place the planters in a sunny sheltered spot to avoid the risk of frost, and fill two thirds deep with compost. The seed potatoes should be planted 10-13cm (4-5") deep in the planters; with 3 to 5 seed potatoes to a planter.

When the plants are approximately 8-12 weeks old, or 20cm (8") tall, fill the planters to the top with more compost. This encourages a higher yield of potatoes, and keeps them from getting exposed to light (which turns them green). Watering your plants well will improve crop yield and discourage scab from forming.

Harvest after flowers have been produced and the tops begin to die off (usually June-August). Remove the tops of the plants and simply loosen the soil by gently squeezing the side of the bag and scooping the compost from around the potatoes.