Not sure about the difference between 'first early' and 'maincrop' potato? You're not alone. And the sheer variety of potatoes available can make it even harder to choose the right one.
Use our easy checklists below to help determine the best seed potatoes for your needs - whether that's a crispy roast potato for Sunday lunch, a new potato dripping in warm butter, or a large bowl of creamy mash. Simply work through the steps below, take a look at our potato varieties chart and find the best potatoes for you to grow at home.
There are 4 main types of potato, and they need to be ordered, chitted, planted and harvested at different times of the year. Your first decision is what cropping type you want to grow.
Now you've selected which type of potato you want to grow, it's time to select a specific variety. Some are better for roasting, while others are best for boiling.
Choose one of the cropping types below to go straight to the full range of potatoes, or, scroll down to the checklists and choose by culinary use:
Varieties | General Purpose |
Chips | Wedges | Baked | Boiled | Mashed | Steamed | Roasted | Salad | New |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Customer Favourites Collection | ||||||||||
Arran Pilot | ||||||||||
Sharpes Express | ||||||||||
Lady Christl | ||||||||||
Super Season of Spuds Collection | ||||||||||
Colleen | ||||||||||
Abbot | ||||||||||
Home Guard | ||||||||||
Maris Bard | ||||||||||
Epicure | ||||||||||
Pentland Javelin | ||||||||||
McCain Premiere | ||||||||||
Red Duke of York | ||||||||||
Purple Majesty | ||||||||||
Casablanca | ||||||||||
Rocket | ||||||||||
Swift | ||||||||||
Orla | ||||||||||
Beginners Collection | ||||||||||
Allotment Favourites Collection |
Varieties | General Purpose |
Chips | Wedges | Baked | Boiled | Mashed | Steamed | Roasted | Salad | New |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ratte | ||||||||||
Jazzy | ||||||||||
Nadine | ||||||||||
Athlete | ||||||||||
British Queen | ||||||||||
Mafona | ||||||||||
Jester | ||||||||||
Apache | ||||||||||
Bambino | ||||||||||
Charlotte | ||||||||||
Maris Peer | ||||||||||
Anya | ||||||||||
Vivaldi | ||||||||||
Kestrel | ||||||||||
Elfe | ||||||||||
Customer Favourites Collection | ||||||||||
Nicola | ||||||||||
Beginners Collection | ||||||||||
Allotment Favourites Collection |
Varieties | General Purpose |
Chips | Wedges | Baked | Boiled | Mashed | Steamed | Roasted | Salad | New |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vizelle | ||||||||||
Marvel | ||||||||||
Adessa | ||||||||||
McCain 'Shepody' | ||||||||||
Kerrs Pink | ||||||||||
Belle de Fontenay | ||||||||||
McCain 'Royal' | ||||||||||
Carolus | ||||||||||
Vales Sovereign | ||||||||||
Cara | ||||||||||
Libertie | ||||||||||
Rooster | ||||||||||
Mozart | ||||||||||
Desiree | ||||||||||
Golden Wonder | ||||||||||
Customer Favourites Collection | ||||||||||
King Edward | ||||||||||
Maris Piper | ||||||||||
Mayan Gold | ||||||||||
Picasso | ||||||||||
Pink Fir Apple | ||||||||||
Salad Blue | ||||||||||
Sarpo Mira | ||||||||||
Setanta | ||||||||||
Valor | ||||||||||
Beginners Collection | ||||||||||
Allotment Favourites Collection |
Varieties | General Purpos |
Chips | Wedges | Baked | Boiled | Mashed | Steamed | Roasted | Salad | New |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charlotte | ||||||||||
Maris Peer | ||||||||||
Nicola |
The next step is to decide whether you're going to plant your potato tubers in potato bags or, if you have plenty of space in your garden for a vegetable plot, or if you're lucky enough to tend an allotment, it's very straightforward to plant and grow your potatoes in the ground.
Limited space shouldn't prevent you from harvesting plenty of delicious homegrown potatoes. It's quick, easy and efficient to grow potatoes in purpose made grow bags on your patio, balcony or an unused corner of your courtyard. Read our article on how to grow potatoes in bags to see just how easy it is.
Nothing is more satisfying than the fresh flavour of newly dug potatoes lifted straight from your own garden. After weeks of caring for your plants you'll certainly enjoy your very own homegrown potato crop. Not only have you reduced the number of food miles required to deliver them to your plate, you also know exactly what has gone into growing them.
For the best information and advice about growing potatoes, head over to our potato hub page. Remember to share your home grown spuds with us on our facebook or twitter.