The best potato varieties to grow

Potato varieties are grouped according to how long they take to mature. First earlies are quickest to mature, taking as little as 10 weeks. Second earlies take another 2-3 weeks. Earlies or new potatoes are delicious eaten straight away, but they don't store well. 'Salad' potatoes are earlies that are particularly good when eaten cold. Maincrop and late-maincrop potatoes take 15-20 weeks and need the most room to grow, and produce large spuds that store well.

You can plant potatoes from late February (in mild areas) to the end of May, starting with first earlies.

Read our full guide to growing potatoes.

Here is our pick of the best, most reliable varieties from BBC Gardeners' World Magazine trials.

'Lady Christl'

Type: First early.

Plant: Feb-March.

Harvest: May-June.

Gives a high yield of very tasty, pale yellow tubers. They can also be left to mature as a second early. Good disease resistance.

• Buy Potato 'Lady Christl' from Crocus, Suttons and Thompson & Morgan

'Rocket'

Type: First early.

Plant: Feb-March.

Harvest: May-June.

Produces heavy crops of round, white, waxy tubers. Quick-maturing and can be harvested as 'baby' new potatoes, too.

• Buy Potato 'Rocket' from Crocus, Suttons and Thompson & Morgan

'Charlotte'

Type: Second early.

Plant: March-April.

Harvest: July-August.

A high-yielding, waxy, flavoursome potato. A good all-rounder, it's Monty Don's favourite.

• Buy Potato 'Charlotte' from Crocus, Suttons and Thompson & Morgan

'Vivaldi'

Type: Second early

Plant: March-April

Harvest: July-September

A versatile spud, said to have fewer calories than other varieties. Harvest early or leave to mature as a maincrop.

• Buy Potato 'Vivaldi' from Suttons and Thompson & Morgan

'Jazzy'

Type: Second early

Plant: March-April

Harvest: July-August

Produces very generous crops of small tubers delivering a strong, sweet flavour. A versatile potato. Grows well in bags.

• Buy Potato 'Jazzy' from Suttons and Thompson & Morgan

'Orla'

Type: First early/maincrop.

Plant: March-April.

Harvest: September-October.

A first early which can be left to bulk up as maincrop. Good blight and disease resistance, also tolerates drought.

• Buy Potato 'Orla' from Crocus, Suttons and Thompson & Morgan

'Carolus'

Type: Maincrop.

Plant: April.

Harvest: September-October.

Produces heavy crops and has good resistance to blight. Combines a slightly floury texture with full flavour.

• Buy Potato 'Carolus' from Crocus, Suttons and Thompson & Morgan

'Pink Fir Apple'

Type: Maincrop.

Plant: April.

Harvest: September-October.

Heritage variety with long, knobbly, pink-skinned tubers. Gives a nutty flavour similar to a salad potato, but matures late.

• Buy Potato 'Pink Fir Apple' from Crocus, Suttons and Thompson & Morgan

'Sarpo Mira'

Type: Late maincrop.

Plant: April.

Harvest: October.

This pink-skinned variety is bred for excellent blight resistance and gives high yields of floury, tasty tubers that store well.

• Buy Potato 'Sarpo Mira' from Crocus, Suttons and Thompson & Morgan

'Cara'

Type: Late maincrop.

Plant: April.

Harvest: October.

Excellent resistance to disease, including blight. Copes well in drought. High yield of tubers, good for baking and chipping.

• Buy Potato 'Cara' from Crocus, Suttons and Thompson & Morgan