For potato lovers, choosing just one variety to plant in your garden can be hard. Each variety offers unique flavours, colours, and textures, and it can be very tempting to try and grow multiple varieties. But can you plant different varieties of potatoes together?
The simple answer is yes, you can. There are no strict rules against planting different potato varieties side by side. However, it’s worth noting that different potato varieties may have different growth habits and maturity times. Here are a few considerations to consider when interplanting various potato types.
Firstly, pay attention to the maturation time. Potato varieties can be early, mid-season, or late maturing. Early varieties are ready for harvest in about 75 to 90 days, mid-season varieties take around 95 to 110 days, and late-season varieties can take over 120 days to mature.
If you’re planting different varieties together, try to keep varieties with similar maturity times together. This way, you won’t disturb the growth of other plants when you harvest.
Secondly, consider growth habits. Some potato varieties have a more compact growth habit, while others can sprawl and take up a lot of space. If you’re planting different varieties together, ensure there’s enough space for each variety to grow without hindrance. You could also consider using potatoe grow bags so you have total control over the the growing process, and they will be easier to label up.
Lastly, while it’s perfectly fine to plant different potato varieties together, it’s also important to practice crop rotation. Like all plants, potatoes can deplete the soil of certain nutrients and leave behind diseases that could affect the same crop in the subsequent year. So, it’s a good idea not to plant potatoes or any other nightshade family plant in the same spot for at least three years.
In conclusion, with a little planning and understanding of different potato varieties, you can successfully grow multiple types in your garden. It can be a fun experiment, allowing you to enjoy a diverse harvest from a single patch of land. Happy planting!
Brian Sheridan has an allotment in Edgbaston and is a competitive grower. Brian is also a keen photographer and loves cooking. Brian and his wife Mary will also be running a stall at Edgebaston artisan market this year, selling products made from the allotment, including his award-winning relish!