When to Plant Potatoes in the UK
Potatoes are planted around the last frost, in three waves — here's when to chit, plant and expect to harvest each type.
Potato planting in the UK runs to three separate calendars depending on the type — first earlies, second earlies and maincrop — and getting the type right matters more than getting the exact date right.
Chitting first
Before planting, "chit" seed potatoes: stand them in a light, cool, frost-free place (an egg box on a windowsill works) for 4–6 weeks, so short, sturdy green shoots form before they go in the ground. Chitting isn't essential for maincrop varieties, but it genuinely speeds up first and second earlies.
When to plant each type
| Type | Chit from | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| First earlies | Late January–February | Mid–late March | June (10–12 weeks after planting) |
| Second earlies | February | Early–mid April | July–August |
| Maincrop | Not essential | Mid–late April | September–October |
Plant once the soil has warmed a little and the worst frost risk has passed — traditionally around Good Friday in much of England, but treat that as a rough guide, not a rule; a cold, wet spring can push planting back two to three weeks, and it's worth waiting rather than planting into cold, waterlogged soil.
Protecting against late frost
Potato foliage is easily blackened by a late frost, even after the "safe" planting date. Keep some spare compost, fleece or even upturned pots handy to earth up over emerging shoots if a frost is forecast — losing the top growth doesn't usually kill the plant, but it sets it back and delays the crop.
Earthing up
Once shoots reach about 20cm, draw soil up around the stem, leaving just the top few centimetres of leaf showing. Repeat every few weeks as the plant grows. This does two jobs: it protects new shoots from frost, and it stops developing tubers being exposed to light, which turns them green and inedible.
Quick reference
- Chit: 4–6 weeks before planting, light and frost-free
- Plant first earlies: mid–late March
- Plant maincrop: mid–late April
- Earth up: every few weeks once shoots reach ~20cm
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