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'Wilja' Seed Potatoes are a versatile and delicious variety that is perfect for both home gardeners and commercial growers.
Wilja seed potatoes are a second early variety that are known for their tasty, earthy flavour and medium-dry texture. They produce oval tubers with creamy yellow flesh that holds their shape well when cooked. Wilja potatoes are a good all-rounder, and can be used for boiling, roasting, mashing, or chipping. They are also a good choice for storage, as they can be kept for several months after harvest.
How to plant, care for and harvest Christmas Potatoes
Plant these potatoes as soon as possible after purchase.
Containers or Potato Bags
If planting into containers or potato bags use a good quality multi-purpose compost. Place approximately 10cm / 4" of dampened compost into the base and evenly space 3 tubers on top. Cover with another 10cm / 4" of compost.
Water sparingly at first and monitor carefully, keeping the compost moist at all times but not allowing it to become waterlogged.
Once the plants reach approximately 10cm / 4", add more compost. When the plants have grown through this compost, repeat. Continue to do this until the container is full.
Containers or potato bags should be moved to a frost-free area for Christmas harvesting.
Ground planting
If planting into open ground, dig over the area, remove any weeds, incorporate well-rotted compost if available and add a general fertiliser. Plant 10-13cm / 4-5" deep, 20-23cm / 8-9" apart in a row, and the rows 50cm / 20" apart.
Autumn can be dry so keep the potatoes well-watered, avoid getting the leaves wet and this can encourage blight.
When the plants get to approximately 10cm / 4" carefully draw earth up the sides of the plants; this encourages additional potatoes to grow from the covered stems and excludes light from the tubers.
In sheltered gardens with a light soil, piling extra earth over the rows and covering with straw for insulation may be sufficient protection from frost to store the potatoes in the ground until Christmas. In cold areas, or where the soil is wet and heavy, it is better to lift the potatoes by the end of October.
Harvesting
Potatoes should be ready in approximately 12 weeks, or after flowering. Harvest only as required, the remainder can be left in situ for up to a month.
Details
- Contents: 10 Seed Potatoes
- Planting period: Late July 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: November, December, January
- Plant height: Up to 60cm
- Plant spread: Up to 45cm
