Growing potatoes - Agria variety specifically
Discussion
I’m having my garden done and am going to get a couple of raised beds put in.
Keen to grow some Agria potatoes as they’re meant to be the best for chips.
I know nothing about growing potatoes, so how do I go about doing this? Seriously dumb question but what do you start growing potatoes from, as it’s not a packet of seeds like herbs…..right?
Keen to grow some Agria potatoes as they’re meant to be the best for chips.
I know nothing about growing potatoes, so how do I go about doing this? Seriously dumb question but what do you start growing potatoes from, as it’s not a packet of seeds like herbs…..right?
You need seed potatoes, from any garden centre or for more specific varieties you might have to go online. Now is the time to plant them ( mine went in a couple of weeks ago.
Personally, for small growing areas, potatoes aren’t the best choice, as they take up quite a lot of room and are dirt cheap in the shops - better to go for higher value crops or ones that provide regular crops like herbs or salad leaves.
Personally, for small growing areas, potatoes aren’t the best choice, as they take up quite a lot of room and are dirt cheap in the shops - better to go for higher value crops or ones that provide regular crops like herbs or salad leaves.
You start with seed potatoes from a garden centre or supplier. These have been specifically screened and processed to grow from so are supposed to be guaranteed disease free, unlike starting with a supermarket potato which might contain nasties.
You start by chitting them - stand them up in egg boxes in the dark until they sprout. Then you plant them out in a few inches of soil. When they grow and the leaves shoot up out of the soil cover them with more soil. Keep doing this. A couple of months later you can feel if they are ready and start harvesting.
Personally I find spuds easier to grow in specific grow sacks rather than in my veg beds but YMMV
You start by chitting them - stand them up in egg boxes in the dark until they sprout. Then you plant them out in a few inches of soil. When they grow and the leaves shoot up out of the soil cover them with more soil. Keep doing this. A couple of months later you can feel if they are ready and start harvesting.
Personally I find spuds easier to grow in specific grow sacks rather than in my veg beds but YMMV
48k said:
You start with seed potatoes from a garden centre or supplier. These have been specifically screened and processed to grow from so are supposed to be guaranteed disease free, unlike starting with a supermarket potato which might contain nasties.
Though realistically any potato that sprouts will likely do for a single crop. You might struggle to find 'Agria' seed potatoes in small quantities, it's likely something grown for McCains.
King Edward or Maris Piper are good for chips and roasting, fact is Maris used to be called the chip shops favourite variety.
Although I preferred to grow first early varieties , some of these are harder to find in shops. I grew 'Sharpes Express' as a first early and 'Charlotte' as a second early, only in tubs or sacks though.
King Edward or Maris Piper are good for chips and roasting, fact is Maris used to be called the chip shops favourite variety.
Although I preferred to grow first early varieties , some of these are harder to find in shops. I grew 'Sharpes Express' as a first early and 'Charlotte' as a second early, only in tubs or sacks though.
UTH said:
I m having my garden done and am going to get a couple of raised beds put in.
Keen to grow some Agria potatoes as they re meant to be the best for chips.
I know nothing about growing potatoes, so how do I go about doing this? Seriously dumb question but what do you start growing potatoes from, as it s not a packet of seeds like herbs ..right?
Agrias are great all rounders, bought a 25kg bag in December (thanks to fallow YouTube channel) and still have a month or so left worth. Keen to grow some Agria potatoes as they re meant to be the best for chips.
I know nothing about growing potatoes, so how do I go about doing this? Seriously dumb question but what do you start growing potatoes from, as it s not a packet of seeds like herbs ..right?
Think you’ll struggle for Agria,
Have a look on here can sort “intended use” if you want specifics
Any potato stuck in the ground should replicate clones of themselves, plans a few inches deep & about 10-12 inches apart then wait.
https://www.jamiesonbrothers.com/red-duke-of-york
I’d recommend these as a wee bit different & earlier
Have a look on here can sort “intended use” if you want specifics
Any potato stuck in the ground should replicate clones of themselves, plans a few inches deep & about 10-12 inches apart then wait.
https://www.jamiesonbrothers.com/red-duke-of-york
I’d recommend these as a wee bit different & earlier
netherfield said:
Although I preferred to grow first early varieties , some of these are harder to find in shops. I grew 'Sharpes Express' as a first early
In my view “First earlies” are really the only ones to bother growing yourself as the novelty of fresh early spuds is really the only worthwhile reason to grow your own.A potato growing produces tubers of varying sizes - if chips is your goal you can buy only big potatoes once a farmer has sorted them out.
My veg patch,
Carrots - fresh from the ground they taste so different
Peas - there’s a reason birdseyes are frozen with an hour of harvest, flavour of fresh peas is wonderful.
Salad leaves & fresh herbs
Leeks - because they are tasty, look smart in rows & easily harvested.
A red currant bush - love the sharp taste & not readily available in shops.
Rhubarb - comes year after year & tastes great
AndyAudi said:
In my view First earlies are really the only ones to bother growing yourself as the novelty of fresh early spuds is really the only worthwhile reason to grow your own.
A potato growing produces tubers of varying sizes - if chips is your goal you can buy only big potatoes once a farmer has sorted them out.
My veg patch,
Carrots - fresh from the ground they taste so different
Peas - there s a reason birdseyes are frozen with an hour of harvest, flavour of fresh peas is wonderful.
Salad leaves & fresh herbs
Leeks - because they are tasty, look smart in rows & easily harvested.
A red currant bush - love the sharp taste & not readily available in shops.
Rhubarb - comes year after year & tastes great
I know what you mean about Peas, but I many times had trouble with mice stealing them out the ground before they'd chance to germinateA potato growing produces tubers of varying sizes - if chips is your goal you can buy only big potatoes once a farmer has sorted them out.
My veg patch,
Carrots - fresh from the ground they taste so different
Peas - there s a reason birdseyes are frozen with an hour of harvest, flavour of fresh peas is wonderful.
Salad leaves & fresh herbs
Leeks - because they are tasty, look smart in rows & easily harvested.
A red currant bush - love the sharp taste & not readily available in shops.
Rhubarb - comes year after year & tastes great
Leeks, another yes, they did very well.
Beetroot, grew lot's of it, I don't like it, and ended up giving most of it to my Dad and Uncle.
One year grew enough Red Onions to keep the whole family supplied for a year.
But age got the better of me so now we've Plum Trees growing in the raised beds, kinder on my back.
You do, but I think you'll be lucky to find any. I've not seen them in garden centres and it's a bit late - seed potatoes usually arrive in Jan.
As has been said, try some Maris Piper or King Edward if you can get some and see how you get on.
I do first earlies, 'new potatoes', planted late March. I swap them for runner beans at the end of June, which I've sown in pots, early June. Thus using the plot twice.
As has been said, try some Maris Piper or King Edward if you can get some and see how you get on.
I do first earlies, 'new potatoes', planted late March. I swap them for runner beans at the end of June, which I've sown in pots, early June. Thus using the plot twice.
UTH said:
Hmmmmmm, I don t think I m actually going to have my raised beds for another 4-6 weeks, does that rather screw me for timings?
No, as long as you have the potatoes.They usually grow in about 3mths do as long as it’s still warm where you are.
On your variety choice - Agria is pretty specific
There is very little certified seed in circulation - looking at the registers for seed growers in both England & Scotland there were only 7ha grown last season (70,000sq m) in total across multiple sites (if all in same place it would not fill a field!) - you won’t find this seed for sale online.
Maincrop usually 20+ weeks , if you chitted some now and planted in a months time you could be harvesting mid October.
I think Agria is a fairly new variety, and as I said above it's aimed at Farmers who will have seed potatoes ordered months in advance.
Search online for 'The Potato Book by Alan Romans. can be found for under £5. Agria won't be in it, but there is lots of useful information in it, advice on feeding and watering.
I think Agria is a fairly new variety, and as I said above it's aimed at Farmers who will have seed potatoes ordered months in advance.
Search online for 'The Potato Book by Alan Romans. can be found for under £5. Agria won't be in it, but there is lots of useful information in it, advice on feeding and watering.
Edited by netherfield on Sunday 19th April 14:19
AndyAudi said:
UTH said:
Hmmmmmm, I don t think I m actually going to have my raised beds for another 4-6 weeks, does that rather screw me for timings?
No, as long as you have the potatoes.They usually grow in about 3mths do as long as it s still warm where you are.
On your variety choice - Agria is pretty specific
There is very little certified seed in circulation - looking at the registers for seed growers in both England & Scotland there were only 7ha grown last season (70,000sq m) in total across multiple sites (if all in same place it would not fill a field!) - you won t find this seed for sale online.
Only focussed on Agria as the Fallow chefs say they’re the best for chips, but I can easily go for one of the others mentioned in previous posts.
netherfield said:
Maincrop usually 20+ weeks , if you chitted some now and planted in a months time you could be harvesting mid October.
I think Agria is a fairly new variety, and as I said above it's aimed at Farmers who will have seed potatoes ordered months in advance.
Search online for 'The Potato Book by Alan Romans. can be found for under £5. Agria won't be in it, but there is lots of useful information in it, advice on feeding and watering.
Thank you, will have a read I think Agria is a fairly new variety, and as I said above it's aimed at Farmers who will have seed potatoes ordered months in advance.
Search online for 'The Potato Book by Alan Romans. can be found for under £5. Agria won't be in it, but there is lots of useful information in it, advice on feeding and watering.
Edited by netherfield on Sunday 19th April 14:19
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