Focus on… Maincrop spuds
WHEN it comes to growing spuds for roasting, boiling, mashing, chipping or baking, bulk is definitely the name of the game! So how do you guarantee superb quality and yields?
Soil, site and spacings
Assign your potatoes to a sunny, open spot – being tender they enjoy warmth, plus good airflow will deter the humidity that encourages late blight (see page 20). Unlike many veggies, a slightly acid soil is preferred, so don’t habitually lime bare beds in early spring. For top-notch maincrop yields, ample fertiliser is required – phosphate and nitrogen, in particular. Non-organic growers could add sulphate of ammonia (for nitrogen) and superphosphate at planting, and again on earthing up. Organic gardeners can rely instead on fish, blood and bone. Spacing for traditional rows is important (see overleaf); 14in
