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Seed Potatoes (Sharpes Express) - Description
- Seed Potatoes
- Variety: Sharpes Express
- Season: First Earlies
- Quantity: 2Kg
- Approx. 25 - 30 Tubers
- Long & Oval Tubers
- Good Resistance to Common Scab
- Heritage Variety in Production Since 1901
Seed Potatoes (Sharpes Express) - How to Grow
- Sharpes are a first early potato meaning
- They are sown from mid March to mid April
- They are a smaller crop than mains
- Mature faster (Harvest mid July)
- Take up less space
- Give smaller yields
- See our how to grow tab for full sowing instructions
Seed Potatoes (Sharpes Express) - Uses
- Boiling, roasting & chips
- Good flavour
Seed Potatoes (Sharpes Express) - Pests & Disease
- Good Resistance to Common Scab
- Susceptible to Blight
- How to notice Blight
- Brown spots on leaves
- Next the leaves begins to rot
- The leaves then turns black
- Finally the tubers themselves begin to rot
- How to control Blight
- Choose disease resistant seed potatoes (Sarpo Mira is one such variety)
- Spray crops prior to infection with Blight Control
- A common spray available on the market is the Bordeaux Mixture
- Pests: slugs, wireworms
- Wireworm
- A larvae which burrows into roots leaving small irregular holes throughout
- How to control Wireworms
- Common in poorly kept or newly developed vegetable patches
- Avoid long grass & untidy plots
- Chemical control an option if pest problem is severe
- A larvae which burrows into roots leaving small irregular holes throughout
Seed Potatoes (Sharpes Express) - Yield
- Yields from these will depend on your soil & conditions this Summer
- A very good yield would be a 15:1 ratio
- if you plant 1Kg of seed potatoes you would get about 15Kg of potatoes at harvest
- But you can expect a yield of around 10Kg to every 1Kg planted on average
Index
- Overview
- Choosing the Right Location
- How to Chit Potatoes
- Ground Preparation
- How to Sow Seed Potatoes
- How to Earth Up Your Potatoes
- How to Harvest
- Pests & Diseases
Overview
Potatoes are a still Ireland’s most popular vegetable. Since its introduction to Ireland by Sir Walter Raleigh it has become an integral part of our everyday cuisine with almost 150million Euros spent on potatoes every year.
There are 1000’s of different potato varieties, the most popular being: Rooster, Queen, Kerr’s Pink, Maris Piper and Golden Wonder. Each different spud has distinct colours, shapes and flavour and all are worth growing even if you only have the smallest of spaces.
Spuds are divided into 3 growing groups
- Earlies: These can be sown in mid March to mid April and are small crops that mature fast allowing you to sow a second crop later in July
- Second Earlies: These are slower to mature and take 16-17 weeks to mature. They can be harvested between July and September. Varieties include: Queens and Orla
- Maincrop: The largest and longest in the ground, the mains are sown in mid April onwards and can be harvested late into autumn. Varieties include: Kerr’s pink, Golden Wonder and Records
The steps involved in growing potatoes are easy to follow, just read these simple steps and get out and get planting!
Choosing the Right Location for Growing Potatoes
- Potatoes like deep, fertile soil with a low pH of approx 5.5. If you are unsure of your soil pH, we provide soil test kits and tips and advice on how to improve your soil
- Locate your vegetable garden in full sun and a sheltered location that is not exposed to strong winds and in not in a low lying frost pocket
Chit Your Seed Potatoes (Optional)
How to Sow Your Seed Potatoes
Earthing Up Your Potatoes
- Just cover up the growing stems as high as you can with soil from between drills
- Earth up the potatoes when they are around 10-15cm high
- Do this 3 times over the growing season
Harvesting Your Potatoes
- Earlies can be harvested first, harvest earlies soon after flowering
- Main crops require time in the soil to fill out after flowering
- Water well one week before lifting
- Use a garden fork to lift roots from soil
- Be sure to dig down 2 foot into soil and remove all tubers, this is very important to prevent blight build up in the soil
- Potatoes can be stored in the ground as late as October
Pests & Diseases for Potatoes
- Pests: slugs, wireworms
- Wireworms: A larvae which burrows into roots leaving small irregular holes throughout
- Control: Common in poorly kept or newly developed vegetable patch. Avoid long grass and untidy plots
- Chemical control an option if pest problem is severe
- Disease: Blight, this is most common in midsummer in damp warm conditions, stay tuned to weather alerts such as Met Eireann
- Notice: brown spots on leaves, foliage begins to rot, foliage turns black, tubers begin to rot
- Control: choose disease resistant seed potatoes or spray crops prior to infection with copper sulphate. A common spray available on the market is the burgundy mixture
Note: We don't ship plants on Fridays due to the extended period they would remain without light & water
Shipping Options & Rates
FOR IRELAND & NORTHERN IRELAND
- Standard Courier Delivery With Fastway (3-4 Working Days)
- Cost is €4.95 on Orders Below €75
- Free Delivery on Orders Above €75
- Rep. of Ireland & Northern Ireland Only
- Express Courier Delivery With Fastway (1-2 Working Days)
- Cost is €5 extra for express delivery
- This service guarantees that any order placed before 4pm will ship from our depot the same day on the next day delivery service *
- Rep. of Ireland & Northern Ireland Only
- Express Delivery With DPD (1-2 Working Days)
- Cost is €11.45 for orders below €75
- Cost is €6.50 for orders above €75
- This service guarantees that any order placed before 4pm will ship from our depot the same day on the next day delivery service *
- Rep. of Ireland & Northern Ireland Only
- This services comes with email tracking
- 'Seed' Postal Delivery Option ***
- Cost is €2 - Packet of Seeds ONLY Orders
- Note: Does Not Apply to Seed Potatoes, Bulbs or Sets ***
- Rep. of Ireland & Northern Ireland Only
- This is a non-trackable service
MAINLAND ENGLAND & SCOTLAND & WALES (Currently Unavailable Due to Brexit)
- Standard International Courier
- Cost is €10
- UK shipping fee covers parcels up to a total weight of 20Kg
WESTERN EUROPE & WORLDWIDE
- Standard International Courier
- Delivery rates vary, please see chart below
- Note: There is no free delivery for Western Europe Deliveries
Bulk Bags & Large Item Pallet Deliveries
- Bulk bags & large orders are shipped via pallet couriers on a rigid lorry
- Delivery is to kerbside only
- If road access to your site is tight, then please advise us before purchasing
- Please Note: We cannot guarantee next day delivery on pallet deliveries
- Also, we cannot guarantee delivery on a specific day (Please allow 1-3 days for delivery)
- It's always best to order well in advance to avoid disappointment
- Cancellation of pallets when items are already in transit will incur a 40 euro per pallet cancellation fee (To cover return delivery costs)
- Where pallet delivery can not be made due to site access, a 40 euro per pallet cancellation fee will apply (To cover return delivery costs)
International Delivery Prices & Times
- Please note max weights below, heavier orders may require additional payment
- We will contact you to discuss, if max weight of order exceeded
Terms
- The shipping fee is fixed for an order, regardless of the number of items bought
- All courier orders require signed proof of delivery & the customer must be contactable by phone
- We do not offer a weekend delivery service (Mon-Fri Only excl. Bank Holidays)
- * Our courier achieves a 98% success rate on next day deliveries
- Once your parcel is shipped it will be placed on works courier's next day delivery service
- ** Seed postal option applies to seed ONLY orders & is available in all 32 counties of Ireland
- *** Does not apply to seed potatoes, bulbs or sets
