First Early.
Red Duke of York seed potatoes are a heritage potato variety dating back to 1942 and produces red skinned tubers with shallow eyes and yellow flesh. The first Red Duke was said to be found in amongst a crop of white dukes in Holland. Red Dukes are a dry, mealy potato packed with flavour and do not disintegrate on boiling. Without doubt this is one of my own personal favourite varieties that we sell at JBA, and now many major supermarkets and retailers are now stocking Red Duke of York as their 'best of the best / finest' range. Winner of the RHS award of garden merit.
Good For; Boiling, Baking, Chipping and Roasting.
2kg Bag - Average 25 tubers.
- Plant first early potato crops from the end of February. Prior to planting, 'chit' the seed potatoes by setting them out in a cool, bright position (10C/ 50F) to allow them to sprout.
- When growing first early potatoes in the ground avoid planting in soil where potatoes have grown for two years in succession to reduce the risk of disease. Prepare the planting area in a sheltered position in full sun on moist well drained soil. Dig in plenty of well rotted manure. Plant potatoes in rows at a spacing of 30cm (12"). Rows should be set out 60cm (2') apart. Place the seed potatoes into 10cm (4") deep trenches and backfill the soil to refill the trenches. When shoots reach 20cm (8"), mound up soil around the shoots leaving just a few cm showing. Repeat this process after a further 3 weeks.
- Where space is limited, try growing potatoes in potato bags on the patio. Fill an 8 litre potato bag to just below the top of the bag with good quality compost mixed with some well rotted manure. Carefully plunge a single chitted potato tuber into the compost with the shoots pointing upwards at a depth of 12cm (5") from the soil surface. Place the bags in a sunny position and water regularly to keep the compost moist.
