Seed Potato 'Pink Fir Apple'

Chitting Your Seed Potatoes

Chitting can give 'Pink Fir Apple' a useful start before planting, although it's less important for maincrop potatoes than for early varieties. Stand the tubers in an egg box or shallow tray with the end showing the most eyes (the rose end) facing upwards. Keep somewhere cool, bright and frost-free, ideally around 7–10°C.

Allow short, sturdy shoots to develop, ideally around 2.5cm long. Avoid warm, dark conditions, which encourage long, weak shoots. If you haven't had time to chit your seed potatoes, they can still be planted successfully.

Where to Plant

Choose an open, sunny position with fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Where possible, prepare the ground during autumn or winter by incorporating well-rotted garden compost or manure.

Avoid growing potatoes where potatoes or other members of the same plant family have recently been grown. Rotating crops helps reduce the build-up of soil-borne pests and diseases.

When to Plant

Plant 'Pink Fir Apple' from around April, once the soil has started to warm and is not waterlogged. As a late maincrop variety, it needs a longer growing season than early potatoes, so avoid delaying planting unnecessarily once conditions are suitable.

Planting Your Potatoes

Dig trenches or individual planting holes around 10–15cm deep. Position the seed potatoes with their shoots facing upwards, spacing them approximately 40cm apart and allowing around 75cm between rows. Cover with soil and gently firm the surface.

Earthing Up

When shoots reach around 15–20cm tall, draw loose soil up around the stems, leaving the upper leaves exposed. Repeat as the plants grow. Earthing up helps protect young growth from late frosts and prevents developing potatoes from being exposed to light, which can cause greening.

Watering and Feeding

Keep plants well watered during prolonged dry spells, particularly while the tubers are developing. Water thoroughly rather than little and often, and keep the growing area free from weeds. If additional nutrients are needed, apply a suitable potato fertiliser according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Pests and Diseases

'Pink Fir Apple' can be susceptible to potato blight, particularly later in the growing season. Watch for rapidly spreading brown patches on the foliage during warm, humid weather. If blight is confirmed, remove affected foliage promptly and dispose of it rather than adding it to your compost heap. Avoid unnecessary wetting of the leaves when watering.

'Pink Fir Apple' can be grown in large containers or potato growing bags, making it possible to enjoy this heritage variety even without a traditional vegetable plot. Allow plenty of space for its long, irregular tubers to develop.

Choosing a Container

Choose a large, deep container with good drainage and position it somewhere sunny. Allow approximately 30–40 litres of compost for two seed potatoes, or use a larger growing sack for additional plants. Avoid overcrowding, as this can restrict tuber development.

Planting in a Potato Growing Bag

Add around 15cm of good-quality peat-free compost to the bottom of the container. Position the seed potatoes with their shoots facing upwards, then cover with another 10–15cm of compost. Water gently after planting.

Adding Compost as Plants Grow

As shoots develop, gradually add more compost around the stems, leaving the upper leaves exposed. Continue until the compost is a few centimetres below the container rim, leaving space for watering.

Watering and Feeding

Container-grown potatoes dry out more quickly than those in the ground. Check the compost regularly, especially during warm weather, and water thoroughly when needed. Allow excess water to drain freely. Feed with a suitable potato fertiliser according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Harvesting Potatoes from Containers

When the crop is ready, carefully empty the growing bag or tip the container onto a sheet. Take extra care when separating the long, knobbly tubers from the compost to avoid damaging them.

When to Harvest

'Pink Fir Apple' is a late maincrop potato, generally ready from September into October, depending on planting date, location and growing conditions. Yellowing and dying foliage can indicate that the crop is approaching maturity. For potatoes intended for storage, allow the skins to firm before lifting.

Checking Your Potatoes Are Ready

Carefully loosen the soil beside a plant to check whether the tubers have reached a useful size. Unlike early potatoes, which are often harvested young, 'Pink Fir Apple' is generally grown on for its mature, full-flavoured tubers.

How to Harvest

Choose a dry day if possible and loosen the soil with a garden fork, starting a little way from the stems. Lift carefully, as the long, irregular tubers can be easier to damage than more rounded potatoes.

Preparing for Storage

Allow freshly lifted potatoes to dry in a sheltered, airy place away from strong sunlight. Gently brush off loose soil rather than washing them, and set aside any damaged tubers to use first.

Storing Your Potatoes

Store sound, mature tubers somewhere cool, dark, frost-free and well ventilated. Paper or hessian sacks are useful for keeping light out while allowing air circulation. Check regularly and remove any potatoes showing signs of rot or deterioration.

Important Storage Tips

Keep potatoes away from light to prevent greening. Never eat green potatoes or green parts of potatoes. 'Pink Fir Apple' is a late maincrop variety, but storage life will depend on the maturity and condition of the tubers and the storage environment.

With its distinctive pink-flushed skins, waxy yellow flesh and rich, nutty flavour, 'Pink Fir Apple' is a favourite for potato salads and simple dishes where the potatoes themselves are the star.

Boiling

Boil the tubers whole or cut larger ones into evenly sized pieces. Their firm, waxy flesh holds together well, making them delicious served warm with butter and fresh herbs.

Steaming

Steaming is another excellent way to enjoy their nutty flavour while keeping the flesh firm. Serve with seasonal vegetables, fish or grilled dishes.

Potato Salads

'Pink Fir Apple' is particularly well suited to warm or cold potato salads. Toss cooked potatoes with a dressing, fresh herbs or spring onions for a simple dish that makes the most of their flavour and texture.

Roasting

Roast the potatoes whole or cut into pieces with a little oil and seasoning. Their naturally knobbly shape creates plenty of edges that can become crisp and golden.

Preparing Your Harvest

There's no need to struggle with peeling these unusually shaped tubers. Give them a thorough scrub and cook them with their skins on where suitable. It's easier and makes the most of their distinctive appearance.

What Are Seed Potatoes?

Seed potatoes are specially produced tubers intended for planting rather than eating. Each tuber has buds, known as eyes, which develop into shoots and grow into a new potato plant.

First Early, Second Early and Maincrop Potatoes

First early potatoes are generally the quickest to mature and are often grown for tender new potatoes in late spring or early summer. Second earlies follow during summer. Maincrop potatoes need a longer growing season and are generally harvested later, with many varieties suitable for storage.

Why Choose a Heritage Potato?

Heritage varieties offer an opportunity to grow potatoes valued for their distinctive flavour, appearance or history. First introduced in 1850, 'Pink Fir Apple' is particularly recognisable for its long, knobbly tubers, pink-flushed skins and rich, nutty flavour.

What Size Will My Seed Potatoes Be?

Seed potatoes naturally vary in size and shape, even within the same variety. This can be especially noticeable with heritage varieties such as 'Pink Fir Apple', which produces characteristically long, irregular tubers.

Smaller seed potatoes can grow just as successfully as larger ones, provided they are healthy and have viable eyes. Larger tubers may produce more stems, but this does not necessarily mean a greater overall harvest from the same weight of seed potatoes.

For packs sold by weight, the number of tubers may vary depending on their size, but you will receive the stated pack weight.

Storing Seed Potatoes Before Planting

Unpack your seed potatoes promptly after delivery. Keep them somewhere cool, bright, dry and frost-free until planting. Avoid leaving them sealed in packaging or in warm, dark conditions, which encourage long, weak shoots.

What If My Seed Potatoes Have Already Sprouted?

It's normal for seed potatoes to develop shoots before planting. Handle them gently to avoid breaking the shoots and keep them in a cool, bright position until you're ready to plant.

Do I Need to Chit My Seed Potatoes?

Chitting is most beneficial for first early and second early potatoes. It can also give maincrop varieties such as 'Pink Fir Apple' a useful start, but isn't essential. Healthy seed potatoes can still grow successfully without chitting.

Can I Plant Supermarket Potatoes?

No — we recommend using certified seed potatoes rather than supermarket potatoes intended for eating. Certified seed potatoes are produced and inspected to meet plant health standards, reducing the risk of introducing pests and diseases into your garden. Supermarket potatoes are not sold or certified for planting and may have been treated to discourage sprouting. For a healthy, reliable crop, always choose certified seed potatoes.