Irish Potato

How to grow Irish Potato

Written by the GardenDecoded editorial team · Last reviewed 21 July 2026 · Written for UK gardens · How we research our guidance

Planting

Chit seed potatoes in a cool light place from late winter until short sturdy shoots form. Plant earlies from March and maincrop from April, about 12 cm deep, with earlies 30 cm apart and maincrop 40 cm apart in rows 60-75 cm apart. Always use certified seed potatoes rather than supermarket tubers.

Pruning

No pruning. Earth up as shoots reach about 20 cm, drawing soil into a ridge over the stems — this stops light reaching the developing tubers and gives some frost protection. Repeat once or twice.

Propagation

From seed tubers each year. Saving your own carries a real risk of building up virus, so it is not generally worth it.

Pests and diseases

Potato blight is the major threat from midsummer, especially on maincrop in wet weather; cut off and remove all top growth at the first sign and leave tubers in the ground for a fortnight before lifting. Slugs tunnel into maincrop tubers left in the ground late. Potato cyst eelworm builds up where potatoes are grown on the same ground repeatedly, so rotate on at least a three-year cycle.

Notes

Fleece or earth up if late frosts threaten emerging shoots. Green tubers and the leafy top growth are not edible — store the crop in the dark, and check toxicity guidance from an authoritative source before growing where children or pets have free access.

This guidance was researched and written by GardenDecoded — see our editorial policy for how guides are checked and reviewed.

Other names for this plant

These names have all been used for Solanum tuberosum but are no longer the accepted name. You may still meet them on old labels, in books, or in nursery catalogues.

Others in Solanum