First Early
First Early potatoes are small to medium-sized potatoes that can be planted in early spring and harvested during summer. These types of potatoes are multi-purpose potatoes and each and everyone of them is unique in their taste and texture. First Earlies are fantastic potatoes for boiling, steaming or to use in salads. Explore our wide range of First Earlies here in our online shop, including the Casablanca, International Kidney and Pentland Javelin. Enjoy free delivery within a five mile radius!
Grow Your Own! | Free delivery within 5 mile radius | 1.5Kg = 10 potatoes/seeding | Harvest 13-15 weeks from planting
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What is a First Early Potato?
First Early potatoes are a type of potato that are typically ready to harvest within 60-90 days after planting. They are small to medium-sized, and are often planted as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring. They are usually planted at a higher density than maincrop potatoes and are typically used for boiling or steaming, but can also be used for salads and new potatoes.
First early and second early potatoes are both types of potatoes that are grown for early harvest, but there are some key differences between them. The main difference is that first earlies are usually ready to harvest within 60-90 days, whereas second earlies need 90-110 days to mature.
How to: harvesting First Early potatoes
First early potatoes can be harvested when the foliage begins to die back and the flowers have faded. How long does it take for first earlies to grow? Well, a first early is a fast maturing potato that needs around 2 to 3 months (60-90 days) to fully mature.
Here is one way to harvest first early potatoes once they are fully matured:
- Carefully dig around the base of the plant with a fork, being careful not to damage the tubers.
- Gently lift the plant out of the ground and shake off any excess soil.
- Check the size of the tubers; if they are small enough to be considered new potatoes, they can be harvested immediately.
- Leave the tubers to dry out in the sun for a few hours before storing them in a cool, dark place.
It's important to note that you should only harvest what you need, leaving the rest in the ground to mature. And also be careful not to damage the tubers when harvesting, as this can reduce the storage life of the potatoes.
Find everything you need for the best homegrown seed potatoes at Horticentre
At Horticentre we have years of experience when it comes to seed potatoes, bulbs and outdoor plants. Our experts are happy to help you with any question you might have! Explore our wide range of seed potatoes including second earlies, maincrop seed potatoes and accessories. Come and pay us a visit or shop online in our webshop, got any questions while being on our webpage? Give us a call so we can assist you!