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Customer RatingSecond early.
This RHS AGM variety is over 100 years old and still highly prized for its yield, shape, floury texture and delicious flavour. Today, Potato ‘British Queen’ is Ireland's favourite summer crop. The oval, white skinned, floury-fleshed tubers make excellent general purpose potatoes and are particularly good for roasting. Height and spread: 60cm (24").
Useful links:
How to grow potatoes in the ground Potato Selector Guide
How to grow potatoes in bags How to stop blight
Plant second early potato crops from March. Prior to planting, 'chit' the seed potatoes by setting them out in a cool, bright position (10C/ 50F) to allow them to sprout.
When growing second early potatoes in the ground avoid planting in soil where potatoes have grown for two years in succession to reduce the risk of disease. Prepare the planting area in a sheltered position in full sun on moist well drained soil. Dig in plenty of well rotted manure. Plant potatoes in rows at a spacing of 37cm (15"). Rows should be set out 75cm (2', 6") apart. Place the seed potatoes into 10cm (4") deep trenches and backfill the soil to refill the trenches. When shoots reach 20cm (8"), mound up soil around the shoots leaving just a few cm showing. Repeat this process after a further 3 weeks.
Where space is limited, try growing potatoes in potato bags on the patio. Fill the potato bags by one third with good quality compost mixed with some well rotted manure. Space 3 seed potatoes in each bag on top of the compost. Fill the bags by another third and place 2 more seed potatoes on top of the compost. Finally cover them with more compost until the bags are full. Place the bags in a sunny position and water regularly to keep the compost moist.
Weed between rows and keep potato plants well watered throughout the growing season. If the risk of frost threatens, draw some soil up around the stems to protect them, or move potato bags to a frost free position in a shed or greenhouse. Second early crops can be harvested approximately 13 weeks from planting when the foliage begins to turn yellow and die back.
Seeds and garden supplies will normally be delivered within the time period stated against each product as detailed above. Plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, shrubs, trees, potatoes etc are delivered at the appropriate time for planting and will be stated on the product page or in your order acknowledgement page and email.
Orders for packets of seed incur a P&P charge of £1.95.
Orders which include any other products will incur a P&P charge of £4.95.
Where an order includes both packets of seeds and other products a maximum P&P charge of £6.90 will apply - regardless of the number of items ordered.
Please see our Delivery / P&P page for further details and details of any surcharges that may apply to certain destinations.
By Roy Graham 02-11-2010
If you like floury potatoes this is the one to grow. It makes the worlds greatest roast potatoes. Since I first grew this potato by chance in the early 90's it has been No.1 on my potato list. Easy to grow, good cropper and sheer heaven with the Sunday roast.
By Carol Darlington 23-09-2010
Yep you have to try this it was a different taste and texture to anything i have grown yet , i highly reccomend it.