Lady Christl First Early Seed Potatoes

Lady Christl is a variety of medium sized, very early oval tubers with good sized yields.

The tubers are yellow skinned with creamy or waxy textured flesh and a great taste. They are also highly resistant to common scab and potato cyst nematodes making them an ideal potato variety for beginner growers.

This ease to grow and excellent reliability led to Lady Christl receiving the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, a widely accepted recommendation.

How to plant

Plant First Early planting potatoes, such as Lady Christl, from March onwards. Plant 10cm deep and 20cm apart in a line, making sure to leave at least 30cm between lines to allow growing space.

Before planting, encourage Seed Potatoes to sprout by placing them on a cool, bright windowsill for 4-6 weeks. This process is known as ‘chitting’ and will help prepare the potato tuber for going in the ground.

Once planted, ‘earth up’ the potatoes by drawing the soil up around new shoots to protect them from frost damage and prolong the growing time. Earthing up also protects developing potatoes from sunlight which causes them to turn green and poisonous. Keep potatoes well watered during warm weather.

How to harvest

When ready to harvest, cut back plant stalks to ground level before gently lifting the plant up with a garden fork.

Carefully remove the potatoes from the plant and wash well before use in the kitchen.

Details

• Pack size: 2kg bag (16-28 tubers)
• Recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit
• When to plant: March
• When to harvest: May, June
• Planting depth: 10cm/4″
• Bulb spacing: 20cm/8″
• Soil type: Moist but well-drained
• Soil pH: Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
• Sunlight: Full sun, Partial shade
• Hardiness: Tolerant of low temperatures but will not survive being frozen