These potatoes are grown from tubers that have been stored at a precise temperature to keep them dormant until they are sent to you between June and late July. Grow them after you’ve finished harvesting your second early seed potatoes.
How To Grow Late Season Potatoes
Late season seed potatoes do not need to be chitted and can be planted as soon as they arrive on your door-step, growing rapidly in the warm summer soil.
You can plant these types of potatoes in containers or in the ground. Large, deep containers around the size of a dustbin can host up to four potato plants, while smaller containers of around 30 litres in size can hold a single potato plant. Place the seeds onto a layer of compost between 10-15cm deep, then cover with another layer of compost around the same thickness. Water well, apply liquid fertiliser and cover with more soil around the stems as the potatoes grow.
If planting in the ground, make sure that there is enough time left in the growing season so that the cold weather doesn’t impede growth. Pick a warm, sunny spot in your garden and plant 30cm apart in rows that are at least 60cm apart. Cover over, then as the stems grow two between 20-30cm, build the soil up around each stem to form ridges.
Late season seed potatoes will need protection from frosts later on in the year. Use plant protection such as a cold frame or garden cloche to keep your crop away from the frosty weather.
When To Harvest Late Season Potatoes
Late potatoes can be dug up and eaten from late October; but remember to leave some soil undisturbed so that you can enjoy some mouth-watering, just-harvested potatoes on Christmas Day!
You’ll know when to unearth your late season seed potatoes, as the leaves will begin to turn yellow. With potatoes grown in containers, simply upturn them and pull the compost away to reveal the tubers. With ground-grown potatoes, carefully use a fork or spade to dig the tubers up.
These potatoes can be eaten straight after harvesting, and are great for roasting and baking! However, if you want to keep your spuds growing until Christmas, keep them in their containers or in the ground with frost protection until you’re ready to use them.
You may also be interested in Suttons maincrop seed potatoes and our McCain Potato Range.
Buy Late Season Seed Potatoes from Suttons
