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The best time to plant potatoes is the first week of April in average areas of the UK.This will give about four weeks for shoots to appear above ground. By that time the danger of frost damaging the shoots will have passed.
Before planting out potatoes do read our page on preparing for growing potatoes. If you haven't already applied fertiliser, do so before planting the seed potatoes. Apply a handful of fish, blood and bone per square and lightly dig it into the planting area.
If you are planting into open ground, dig out a hole 15cm / 6in deep for each seed potato, each hole should be 30cm / 12in apart for early potato varieties or 35cm / 14in apart for maincrop varieties. Dig the holes in a straight line so it makes identifying where the potatoes are.
If you want more than one row of potatoes, space the rows 60cm / 24in for early potato varieties or 75cm / 30in apart for maincrop varieties.
For potatoes which have been chitted / sprouted, place one seed potato in the bottom of each hole with the sprouts pointing upwards, be careful not to knock the sprouts off when planting. Cover with soil to the level of the surrounding soil. Water in well.
If you are planting seed potatoes which have not been chitted, first identify the eyes on the seed potatoes (see picture below).
"Eyes" on a seed potato
Plant the non-chitted potatoes in the hole with the majority of the eyes pointing upwards.
If you are planting in containers, the process is broadly similar but see our article about container growing potatoes for much more detail.
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