‘Charlotte’ is absolutely one of the most popular UK potato varieties for gardeners, due to its yellow skin and creamy, velvety yellow flesh, which holds one of the best flavours of any potato you can grow. Frequently found in supermarkets, why not skip the hassle and expense and grown your very own, not only is it cheaper but it tastes better too! Second early salad variety. Height and spread: 60cm (24″).
Growing Information
Plant second early potato crops from March. Prior to planting, ‘chit’ the seed potatoes by setting them out in a cool, bright position (10C/ 50F) to allow them to sprout.
When growing second early potatoes in the ground avoid planting in soil where potatoes have grown for two years in succession to reduce 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 a spacing of 37cm (15″). 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. When shoots reach 20cm (8″), mound up soil around the shoots leaving just a few cm showing. Repeat this process after a further 3 weeks.
Where space is limited, try growing potatoes in potato bags on the patio. 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 chitted 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.
