Potato ‘Charlotte’ - Truly sensational flavour whether eaten hot, smothered in butter, or cold in a tasty salad niçoise.

Second cropping potatoes do not require 'chitting' and should be planted as soon as they are received in August. When planting late potatoes in bags, fill the potato bags by one third with good quality compost mixed with some well rotted manure. Space 3 seed potatoes in each bag on top of the compost. Fill the bags by another third and place 2 more seed potatoes on top of the compost. Finally cover them with more compost until the bags are full. 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.

AFTERCARE:

Keep potato plants well watered throughout the growing season. If the risk of frost threatens, draw some soil up around the stems to protect them, or move potato bags to a frost free position in a shed or greenhouse. Tubers can be harvested as required, with the others being left in the ground. 'Ping-pong ball' sized tubers can be harvested approximately 10 to 11 weeks after planting, or harvested 13 weeks from planting when the foliage begins to turn yellow and die back. After harvesting, store potatoes in a cool, dark frost-free position until you are ready to use them.

Alternatively cut down the haulms (stems) with secateurs to just above soil level as the leaves wither/yellow and protect from frost by covering with a thick layer of straw and/or sacking. These can then be lifted as new potatoes at Christmas time.