Our seed potatoes for 2026 have started to arrive with a good selection of first earlies now available for order.
For those lucky enough to have a polytunnel or greenhouse, first early varieties such as “Sharpe's Express” or “Red Duke of York” can be planted now enabling you to be pulling up some baby new potatoes as early as late April. Those left until May and June will be the most delicious and will carry you through until you can start harvesting your outdoor first and second earlies from July. If you're looking for a purple fleshed variety high in healthy anthocyanin, then we have a new variety Vitanoire® which is not just great for your health but looks great on the plate as the tubers retain their colour once cooked.
For those who are planting outside, you can start “chitting” your early seed potatoes in February, by placing them in shallow trays or egg boxes, standing them with the eye you want to sprout on top. Place them in indirect sunlight in a frost-free room and this should provide you with sturdy green shoots by March which will give them a head start when planting out.
As a general rule of thumb, your first earlies will be planted out in mid March with many seeing St. Patrick's day as the start of the planting season for potatoes. Second earlies can then follow in early April with your Maincrop planted soon after in mid to late April.
For our full guide on how to grow and cultivate seed potatoes, check out 'Potatoes' in our 'Grow Your Own: A-Z'
Good luck!
