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Vitabella potatoes are somewhere between a First and Second Early variety. The parents are VR 95-98 and Miriam. Vitabella was bred by Plantera in Holland.
Vitabella produces good looking, oval potatoes with a few shallow eyes. The skin is thin and the potatoes can be eaten without peeling.
Their flesh is a waxy light yellow, ideal for boiling and eating cold or hot. They can be left in the ground until harvested right through to November. From September onwards they make very edible chips. Flavour is good.
Disease resistance for Vitabella is impressive, although this is a relatively new variety so further practical testing is required. They have good blight resistance and are about average for scab resistance. They grow slightly above average height so can be be blown over in windy conditions. However, in our experience this results in no loss at harvest time.
They grow exceptionally well in containers and because of their good disease resistance they are well suited to organic growing methods.
Vitabella Potatoes
Vitabella potatoes should be grown in the normal manner for Second Early potatoes. Click here for our detailed page about growing potatoes. The advice applies to growing potatoes in containers as well as in open ground.
The best time to chit / sprout Vitabella potatoes is the first week of March in average areas of the UK.
Sprouted Seed Potatoes
Being a Second Early variety it is well worth chitting / sprouting Vitabella potatoes - it will give a more reliable crop although not absolutely necessary. Click here for our advice on how and why to chit / sprout potatoes.
The best time to plant out chitted / sprouted Vitabella potatoes is about the first week of April in average areas of the UK.
Planting out on this date will give the chitted / sprouted potatoes about four weeks before they reach the surface of the soil. Whilst they are growing towards the soil surface the sprouts will be protected from frost by the surrounding soil.
By the time they do appear above the soil, the danger of frost will have passed and the sprouts will not be damaged by frost.
As with all vegetables, the time for harvest is dependent on many factors such as the weather conditions while they are growing and the general soil conditions.
On average however you can expect to start harvesting Vitabella potatoes in second week of July in average areas of the UK
Using the above date as a guide we would advise that a week before that date you use your hand to search through the soil to harvest one or two potatoes. The term often used for this activity is known in gardening circles as "furtling"!
It does almost no damage to the remaining potatoes but allows you to examine one or two of the potatoes to ensure they are of approximately the correct size. If they are, start harvesting, if not wait for two weeks and try again.
Harvesting Vitabella potatoes can be spread over two or three months. Those potatoes harvested late in the year will start to turn floury rather than waxy but they still taste good. Be sure to read our page on storing potatoes to get the most from your crop of Vitabella potatoes.
Excellent alternatives to Vitabella potatoes are Kestrel and Nicola although neither are as resistant to blight. For other second early potatoes we have tested, select one from the drop down list below.
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