‘Sharpe’s Express’ Christmas Harvest First Early Seed Potatoes (Pack of 10)

‘Sharpe’s Express’ First Early Seed Potatoes are long and oval shaped with white skins and pale, lemon-coloured flesh. They are an excellent all-round potato for cooking with a fine flavour, however, they are are best suited to boiling, roasting and chipping.

They can be boiled whole in their skins, due to their floury texture, and are excellent hot with butter or cold with salads.

A recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, these potatoes are reliable and dependable with excellent resistance to diseases such as common scab.

Planting Guide

Plant First Early potato tubers, such as ‘Sharpe’s Express’, into trenches dug into a well-prepared bed about 20-23cm/8-9″ apart. Alternatively, they can be planted into a potato grow-bag or container, making sure there is at least 10cm/4″ of compost beneath them. Add a multi-purpose fertiliser to the bottom of the trench or growbag and then cover the potatoes with a 10cm/4″ layer of soil or compost.

Water well and as the plants get to around 20cm/8″ tall, bank up the soil around the plant, so that the soil covers the bottom two thirds of the plant.

Harvesting Guide

First earlies are typically ready for harvesting around 13-15 weeks after planting. Harvest potatoes only as required, leaving the remainder for up to a month.

For a Christmas harvest it is important that the crop is protected from frosts, either through being moved or through insulation.

Details

• Recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit
• Contents: 10 Seed Potatoes
• Planting period: Late June to September
• Planting depth: 10-13cm/4-5″
• Planting spacing: 20-23cm/8-9″
• Position: Full sun, Partial shade
• Soil: Fertile, Well drained
• Hardiness: Protect tubers from frost
• Harvesting period: First Early, November to December
• Plant height: Up to 60cm
• Plant spread: Up to 45cm