Perfect for your Christmas spuds, these second cropping potatoes will be ready to harvest in the run up to the big day and through autumn. Will need to be kept protected from frost, meaning they’re very well suited to grow bag growing in greenhouses or in sheltered allotment plots, where the uniformed oval beauties will be produced to good yields. White skinned and shallow eyed, the waxy fleshed ‘Nicola’ is great for boiling or steaming, and shows top resistance to eel worm and scab, which results in more reliable crops. Also good for storing. Height and spread: 60cm (24").
Growing Information
Second cropping potatoes do not require 'chitting' and should be planted as soon as they are received. When planting late potatoes in bags, fill an 8 litre potato bag to just below the top of the bag with good quality compost mixed with some well rotted manure. Carefully plunge a single potato tuber into the compost with the shoots pointing upwards at a depth of 12cm (5") from the soil surface. Place the bags in a sunny position and water regularly to keep the compost moist.
When growing second cropping potatoes in the ground avoid planting in soil where potatoes have grown for two years in succession as this will increase the risk of disease. Prepare the planting area in a sheltered position in full sun on moist well drained soil. Dig in plenty of well rotted manure. Plant potatoes in rows at spacing of 45cm (18"). Rows should be set out 75cm (2’, 6") apart. Place the seed potatoes into 10cm (4") deep trenches and backfill the soil to refill the trenches. If risk of frost threatens, protect emerging shoots by drawing some soil over the top of them.
