Second Earlies

Seed potatoes are classified according to the length of time they take to mature, but this can be influenced by weather. Second early seed potatoes mature in 110-120 days. Planted mid to late April, they will be ready for harvesting from early to mid August. Second early seed potatoes can be planted from mid March onwards as a rough guide, dependent on weather.

Compared to maincrop potatoes, first earlies and second earlies are lower yielding, usually have smaller tubers, need less space and escape some of the diseases, such as blight.

Second Earlies are generally eaten as soon as they're harvested - enjoyed as 'new potatoes' - while maincrop cultivars can either be used fresh from the ground or stored for winter use in hessian sacks.