Salad Type Seed Potatoes

Salad potatoes – more info

Salad potatoes are classified as 'earlies' but have a slightly longer season (10-12 weeks) than first earlies (8-10 weeks). They generally yield small, waxy tubers perfect for serving as boiled potatoes or in salads. They're best eaten fresh, as they don't have a long storage life.

How to plant salad potatoes

Chit your seed potatoes in a cool, light place, 4-6 weeks before planting. Find tips on how and when to chit potatoes here. Plant around 10-15cm deep, 30cm apart, between March and May (depending on climate and soil warmth) in a sunny, well-drained spot.

How to care for salad potatoes

Salad potatoes prefer evenly moist conditions, so make sure you keep yours well watered. Feed with a balanced fertiliser when you plant them, and consider a potassium-rich feed five to six weeks in. Watch out for slugs and blight. Organic sprays can help, as can companion planting with marigolds to repel pests, coriander to attract beneficial insects that prey on pests, or chamomile, which helps to nourish soil with sulphur and potassium.

How to harvest salad potatoes

Harvest your salad potato crop once flowers appear, or when the foliage starts to yellow – generally 10-12 weeks after planting. Be careful with your garden fork, as you can damage their delicate skin when you're digging them from the ground.