Patatoes - Early Second early and Maincrop!

Maincrop potatoes ready for peeling and the pot!

The differences between early, second early, and maincrop potatoes!

The difference between the crops is spelt out quite simply by the names! They also take different lengths of time to mature in the ground during their growing period.

Earlies normally mature in about three and a half months - 100 days or so. The second earlies will take about four months - 120 days or so. Maincrop potatoes can take between three and four months to full maturity.

Early potatoes are those that we normally enjoy with salads or with skins still attached during June or earlier. These are followed by the second earlies, and then of course by the main potato crop which start to be dug around mid September. All potatoes taste better if they are dug and cooked in the same day!

Planting times for the different types are also slightly different, with the earlies being planted first, followed a few weeks later by the second early and maincrop potatoes.

Maincrop potatoes normally store quite well, whereas the early potato varieties will start to deteriorate quite quickly once dug.