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When to plant
potatoes (maincrop) in the UK
Plant a few weeks after earlies. Earth up as haulms grow. Harvest when foliage dies back — leave in the ground for a week first to toughen the skins.
Growing journey
20 weeks from sowing to harvest
Get potatoes (maincrop) seeds
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What potatoes (maincrop) need
Sun. Rich, deep soil. Water consistently once tubers are forming.
Spacing
38cm between plants
These are larger plants — give them plenty of space for air circulation.
Varieties to try
When to sow potatoes (maincrop)
Based on UK average frost date. Enter your postcode for exact dates, or find your city.
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Where to buy potatoes (maincrop) seeds
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What you'll need for potatoes (maincrop)
The stuff beginners wish they'd bought sooner.
Start chitting 6 weeks before planting. Egg boxes work, but proper trays are a few quid and stack neatly.
If space is tight or your soil has blight history. Fabric bags with an access flap let you harvest without tipping the whole thing out.
Never store potatoes in plastic — they sweat and rot. Hessian breathes and keeps them dark.
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Get your exact dates
Enter your postcode for personalised planting dates for potatoes (maincrop).
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