Jamie Oliver How to grow potatoes

Date Published:

15/10/2007

Preparation

Potatoes grow quite happily in most types of soil, as long as it has been well dug beforehand.

Ideally, it should be clear of large stones and you should incorporate plenty of well-rotted compost while digging it over. Try to do so in mid-November or December to allow it to settle before planting the following spring.

The ideal position for potatoes is a warm and sunny site with little or no shade. Their susceptibility to disease means that they should not be grown in the same bed for two years in succession, as this will increase the risk of infections spreading through the crop.

Planting

Tempting as it may be to plant past-their-best potatoes you bought from a supermarket, you're better advised to invest in the small spuds which are sold by garden centres and specialist suppliers as 'seed potatoes'.

They will be certifiably free from viruses and more likely to give you a decent crop, in terms of both size and taste.

They are generally available from mid-December onwards, planted during the spring and harvested in the summer period. If you are able to, select healthy looking specimens about the size of an egg.

They perform best if they're allowed to sprout before being planted. Place them in cardboard egg boxes in a cool, light airy room, positioned so the ends with tiny buds on them are uppermost.

As the sprouts emerge, remove all but the topmost four. They should be bright green and around 2.5cm (1in) at planting time, which is normally from early to mid-March.

Plant the potatoes in a trench dug to a depth of about 10cm (4in), with the sprouts pointing upwards. Early varieties should be planted at 30cm (1ft) spacings, in rows which are 60cm (2ft) apart.

Give main-crop potatoes a little extra room and space their rows 75cm (30in) apart. Carefully re-fill the trenches, then apply a general purpose fertiliser and rake it in.