First earlies can grow in two months from planting in late March/ Early April, as close as 35cm. Your harvesting before it’s properly mature as it doesn’t need much space to grow big! They are a ‘catch No Dig Potatoes?! How do you space them and how do you earth them up whilst respecting the soil? Charles Dowding shares some expert advice here at Homeacres.

First earlies can grow in two months from planting in late March/ Early April, & don't need too much space at all, as close as 35cm! You're harvesting before it’s properly mature as it doesn’t need much space to grow big! They are a ‘catch crop’ before you even plant your courgettes.

Second early potatoes, called ‘Seed Potatoes’, take off a few of the chits/sprouts and bury them face up. These will mature in July. Spacings for these are 45 cm. It looks like a lot of space but they need it! 

When you're planting out, make a slit in the ground, just a depth of the trowel and then cover with 3 inches of earth on top of the potato.

With the No Dig method, the only maintenance for your potatoes is topping up compost over your potatoes as the leaves show. Covering the plant is a way of protecting it from the cold & light. Each time you add to the compost mound, the potatoes are encouraged closer to the surface. You bring the harvest to you, rather than digging down!

They don’t need much water at this stage of growth because the roots will go deep into the soil. Start watering more when the potatoes start to flower or about 3 weeks before harvest time.

TOP TIP: You can gain 1-1.5 kg of potatoes per plant!

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