potato 'Swift' (PBR)
potato - first early, Scottish basic seed potato
- 5 × seed potatoes
- £3.49 £0.70 each
- available to order from winter
- 15 × seed potatoes
- £9.00 £0.60 each
- available to order from winter
Delivery options
- Bulbs (only) £4.99
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil, or general purpose compost for containers
- Rate of growth: fast
- Harvesting period: June
- Hardiness: tender (protect tubers from frost)
Hailed as one of the earliest croppers, it is claimed that you can be dishing these potatoes up in as little as 7 weeks after you plant them. They produce a high yield of white-skinned, oval potatoes that have a creamy coloured flesh that is ideal for boiling. In growth, they are compact, which makes them ideal for containers, and they show a good resistance to scab and virus.
These come in a 'taster' pack of 5 tubers.
These come in a 'taster' pack of 5 tubers.
As soon as your seed potatoes arrive, unpack them and if you've time, start chitting by placing them in a single layer in a light, cool, frost-free spot. Begin this around six weeks before planting. While not essential, chitting will help get your potatoes off to a good start, and subsequently they'll produce an earlier harvest. There’s also no need to chit autumn or Christmas potatoes, as these are planted in summer.
First early and second early seed potatoes can be planted outdoors under fleece protection, while maincrops should wait until the risk of frost has eased, usually from mid-April. Autumn and Christmas potatoes are planted straight into trenches or potato bags from late July.
Dig a trench 8-13cm (3-5in) deep and add a balanced fertiliser before planting the tubers 30cm (12in) apart with the shoots facing upwards (if present), then cover lightly with soil. If using potato bags, plant into general-purpose compost with at least 20cm (8in) beneath the tubers.
When shoots reach about 20cm (8in) tall, earth up soil or compost around the stems to cover the lower two-thirds of the plant. Keep plants well watered as this boosts yield and helps prevent scab.
Planting and harvest times depend on the type:
First earlies: Plant mid-March to April and lift 10-12 weeks later (June to early July).
Second earlies: Plant early to mid-April and lift after 13-14 weeks (mid-July to August).
Maincrop: Plant from mid-April and harvest after 15-20 weeks (late August to October).
Autumn/Christmas: Plant from late July and lift from 12 weeks, protecting plants from frost.
First early and second early seed potatoes can be planted outdoors under fleece protection, while maincrops should wait until the risk of frost has eased, usually from mid-April. Autumn and Christmas potatoes are planted straight into trenches or potato bags from late July.
Dig a trench 8-13cm (3-5in) deep and add a balanced fertiliser before planting the tubers 30cm (12in) apart with the shoots facing upwards (if present), then cover lightly with soil. If using potato bags, plant into general-purpose compost with at least 20cm (8in) beneath the tubers.
When shoots reach about 20cm (8in) tall, earth up soil or compost around the stems to cover the lower two-thirds of the plant. Keep plants well watered as this boosts yield and helps prevent scab.
Planting and harvest times depend on the type:
First earlies: Plant mid-March to April and lift 10-12 weeks later (June to early July).
Second earlies: Plant early to mid-April and lift after 13-14 weeks (mid-July to August).
Maincrop: Plant from mid-April and harvest after 15-20 weeks (late August to October).
Autumn/Christmas: Plant from late July and lift from 12 weeks, protecting plants from frost.
- Humans/Pets: Seed potatoes and plants - Harmful if eaten
