Potato types explained
Confused by the different potato types? We explain the differences between first early, second early, salad and maincrop potatoes in this short guide.
There are three main types of potato to grow, named according to when you plant and harvest them: first earlies, second earlies and maincrop. First early or 'new' potatoes are so-called because they are the earliest to crop, in June and July. Second earlies (also called 'new' potatoes) are hot on their heels, taking a few more weeks to mature. They are ready from July.
These two types are expensive in the shops and taste better when just harvested, so many people grow these. They also take up less room in the veg patch, and are less prone to potato blight, as they are generally harvested before the disease has taken hold. There are also some more unusual seed potato varieties that have blue, purple or red flesh – if you're looking for something different, try the maincrop varieties 'Heidi Red', which has red skin and flesh, and makes a good salad potato, or 'Blue Annelise', which has blue flesh.
Maincrop potatoes take the longest to mature and are harvested from late August to October. They are suitable for baking, roasting and mashing, and can be stored for a few months. Floury potato varieties are good for baking and mashing, whereas waxy potato varieties make good additions to a salad. Growing potatoes is easy – plant one seed potato, and you dig up lots of potatoes a few months later.
According to Kew Gardens, there are now over 5000 varieties of potato. We've listed some of the most popular early and maincrop potato varieties to grow in the UK, below.
Potato varieties to grow
‘Red Duke of York’
Potato type: First early
When to plant: March
When to harvest: June and July
A large new potato with red skin and yellow flesh that has a floury texture. This heritage variety is a versatile all rounder that can be baked, mashed or roasted.
‘Lady Christl’
Potato type: First early
When to plant: March
When to harvest: June and July
‘Lady Christl’ is a high-yielding waxy variety with medium, oval potatoes. It has good disease resistance.
‘Orla’
Potato type: First early
When to plant: March
When to harvest: June and July
This versatile tuber is a first early but it can be left in the ground to mature as second early or maincrop. When harvested early it has waxy, pale yellow flesh. When left to grow bigger the flesh becomes more floury. It's popular
for its blight resistance.
‘Rocket’
Potato type: First early
When to plant: March
When to harvest: June and July
This Scottish first early potato is a heavy cropping variety with waxy, white flesh. It has good disease resistance, including to golden eelworm.
'Charlotte'
Potato type: Second early
When to plant: March (with frost protection)
When to harvest: July and August
'Charlotte' is a good all rounder that makes a delicious salad potato. It's a Scottish variety with yellow waxy flesh and stores well.
'Maris Peer'
Potato type: Second early
When to plant: March (with frost protection)
When to harvest: July and August
This small variety has light skin and firm creamy flesh and is good for boiling as it doesn't fall apart easily. It has good resistance to scab and can also be planted in August for a Christmas harvest.
'Ratte'
Potato type: Second early
When to plant: March (with frost protection)
When to harvest: July and August
'Ratte' is a French variety that is used as a second early and maincrop potato, with crops of white skinned, waxy yellow fleshed potatoes that have a chestnut-like flavour. Although yields are lower than other varieties, this variety is prized for its flavour and popular in restaurants.
'Pink Fir Apple'
Potato type: maincrop
When to plant: mid- to late April
When to harvest: August to October
This old variety dates back to 1850 and has an AGM from the RHS. It's a versatile waxy potato with a nutty flavour that is just as good boiled as it is in a salad. 'Pink Fir Apple' is a late cropping potato and can be harvested early to mid October.
'Desiree'
Potato type: maincrop
When to plant: mid to late April
When to harvest: July to September
'Desiree' is an early maincrop with harvests from July to September. It's a red-skinned variety with yellow waxy flesh that's good for roasting but makes an excellent baked potato. This heavy cropper has good drought resistance and resistance to blight and scab.
'Cara'
Potato type: maincrop
When to plant: mid to late April
When to harvest: August to October
This high-yielding potato has white and pink skin and floury flesh that makes it perfect for chips and baked potatoes. It has good drought and disease resistance.
'Maris Piper'
Potato type: maincrop
When to plant: mid to late April
When to harvest: August to October
Easily found in the supermarket, this family favourite is also easy to grow, with creamy white flesh that makes it an excellent choice for chips. It's a versatile potato that is also delicious roasted, baked or mashed and stores well after harvest.
'King Edward'
Potato type: maincrop
When to plant: mid to late April
When to harvest: August to October
'King Edward' has been grown in the UK since 1902 and is now one of the most recognisable potatoes sold in supermarkets. It's a good all rounder and particularly good for roast potatoes due to its creamy white flesh. Easy to grow, it also has good resistance to a variety of diseases including scab.
'Sarpo Mira'
Potato type: maincrop
When to plant: mid to late April
When to harvest: August to October
This floury, pink-skinned variety produces large potatoes that are good for baking, chips and roasting. It has high, natural resistance to blight and it's drought resistant too.
Growing potatoes in a small space
Potatoes can take up a lot of room on the veg plot but they grow brilliantly in large containers or even large bags. Find out how to grow potatoes in a pot.
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