New potatoes are in demand because of their taste and fresh vitamins and are eagerly awaited every year. If you grow them yourself, start planting early varieties in March. The only condition: the ground must be frost-free.
When and how should potatoes be planted?
Potatoes should be planted in March as soon as the ground is frost-free. Choose early varieties, plant them in warmed soil and possibly use a polytunnel. New potatoes are planted in furrows 6 to 10 cm deep.
Early potato varieties
When it comes to early potatoes, a distinction is made between very early and early varieties.
- very early varieties: Christa, Rosara, Frühgold, La Ratte
- Early varieties: Cilena, Marabel, Margit, Sieglinde, Belana
Tips for faster growth
Potatoes take around 80 to 100 days from planting to harvest. With a few “tricks” growth can be accelerated.
Preheated floor
Potatoes love warm soil. You can support the warming up by the sun by spreading out blankets, foil or garden fleece 2 weeks before planting.
Even after planting, it still makes sense to leave the film on the bed so that heat can continue to be stored underneath. However, regular ventilation is necessary to prevent rot. It is then removed in May at the latest or, at most, used overnight during late frosts.
Polytunnel
A polytunnel (€129.00 at Amazon) also provides a growth advantage. The sunlight heats up the air and ground beneath the film, while at the same time it protects against frost.
Foil cover and foil tunnel do not replace piling!
Use pre-sprouted potatoes
The pre-germination of early varieties begins in February. The potatoes are placed in a bright place in a fruit or egg crate, but not in direct sunlight.
Lower furrow depth
In order to make better use of the sun's heat, early potatoes are planted less deeply. A furrow depth of around 6 to 10 cm is sufficient.
Now is harvest time
The harvest of early potatoes begins in June. In contrast to late varieties, it is harvested when the herb is still in bloom. To check the tires, carefully dig up a potato. If the peel remains tight when you rub it with your finger, the potato is ripe.
Impatient people check 60 days after sowing. Then the first potatoes may be ripe, but should be eaten immediately.
Early potatoes are not suitable for storage. That's why only as much is dug up as is consumed.
Tips & Tricks
How about the “Red Duke of York”? The potato, which has been cultivated since 1942, is a very early variety with red skin, yellow flesh, creamy taste and very good yields.
