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Maris Piper Potato Seeds

£2.99
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Pack of 1kg potato tubers

  • enough for a 12ft row,
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Potatoes are not included in the 'small seed packet' free delivery deal.

Maris Piper Seed Potatoes

Maris Piper is one of the best known and popular potato varieties on sale, with more Maris Piper grown across the UK than any other variety. It is also a great favourite with fish and chip shops because it is so reliable, its high dry matter makes it an excellent choice for home-style chips and other potato dishes.

Maris Piper has a creamy coloured flesh and although technically its skin is white to yellow in colour, it is regarded as a ‘white’ potato and is widely available as seed and from supermarkets. There is nothing like growing your own though.

This seed is a Main Crop variety for lifting when skins are set in the Autumn.

 

 

 

Maris Piper Potato Seeds Grow Notes
When to Plant Seed Potatoes: April / May - Best sown direct outside
Cooking Comments: Excellent flavour and texture, suitable for a wide range of uses. Floury and not the easiest to boil, but excels otherwise. Chips!
Maturity: Main crop Cover: Yes
Blight Resistance: Moderate Frost Hardy: No
Scab Resistance: Low Eelworm (PCN) Resistance: Good resistance
Spacing Between Plants: 30cm Row Spacing: 60cm
Plant Height: 70cm Planting Position: Sun
Yearly Average Bag Counts
Count per bag depends on the previous growing season and size of the tuber grade out, below we list the average number across a count of 10 bags of this variety.
2022: 12    

How To Grow Maris Piper Potatoes

Soil preparation for maincrop seed potatoes

Maris Piper Seed Potatoes - The Number 1 Choice for Home Cooked Chips.Prepare the soil for maincrop potato beds during November or December in the year prior to growing crops. Incorporate generous amounts of organic matter or well-rotted manure, which will help improve soil structure, retain moisture and to add vital nutrients to the soil. Light sandy soils and heavy clay soils may require additional compost to aid drainage, which is very important for the successful growing of potatoes.

Order or buy your maincrop seed potatoes in late February or early March so that you have them ready to plant in April when favourable conditions allow. 

All potatoes prefer an open sunny position and it’s always advisable not to plant seed potatoes in ground that has been previously used to grow potatoes for 2 years or more. Good practice is to rotate crops each year to help reduce the possibility of spreading disease.

Maincrop seed potatoes will benefit from chitting, which is the process of placing the sets in a light, cool place prior to planting. This will encourage the growth of new shoots, giving the tubers a safe head start.

Planting maincrop seed potatoes in beds

Planting is best carried out on a dry day in April, ensuring any frost has first lifted from the soil. Lightly rake the prepared beds, in which the potato crop will be grown, so that you have a manageable tilth. Next, using a spade, dig a straight and even trench approximately 10cm deep and then place the seed potatoes at a distance of 45cm apart. If growing more than one row, space each row at around 75cm apart. Each seed potato has a rose end, which usually has the most shoots, and this end should be facing upwards. Cover the seed potatoes with soil and lightly firm down with the foot or back of the spade.

A sprinkling of potato fertiliser can then be spread over the top of the soil and water applied. If frosts are prevalent, do not over water as this could cause damage should the water later freeze. Also to prevent damage to the emerging shoots, it is recommended you cover the planted trenches with cloches until the new shoots appear. Regular watering during dry spells will ensure the young tubers swell and stay firm and healthy.

Maris Piper Potatoes, Lift in the AutumnGeneral aftercare

General aftercare consists of regular watering, especially during dry periods. Maincrop potatoes need quite a lot of water so it’s important the plants are not allowed to dry out.

As the young shoots grow you should “earth up” the potato stems to protect them from frosts and to ensure the new younger potatoes, nearest the surface are not exposed to light. If they are exposed to light they will begin to go green, making the potatoes inedible.  

During the growing season additional fertiliser can be applied every 2-3 weeks to ensure plants obtain sufficient nutrients to keep them growing strong and healthy.

Pests and diseases

The most serious problem associated with all potatoes is blight, which can be more of a problem during the warmer summer months. If detected, then spraying the plants with a proprietary fungicide can be an effective preventative treatment.

Eelworm can also be a problem in some areas. It is highly recommended you only buy certified maincrop seed potatoes or plant resistant strains. Good hygiene and crop rotation can help avoid many common plant diseases.

Blackleg is a bacterial infection, which is also a known problem but it is usually confined to individual plants rather than the whole crop. Again, good hygiene and crop rotation is key to avoiding this particular disease.

Another common problem is potato scab, which can make the skins look a little unsightly. However, this problem does not affect the taste or quality of the potato in any way. To help avoid scab, ensure plenty of organic matter is incorporated into the soil during late autumn. Slugs can damage tender leaves and stems so “earthing up” regularly will help to keep them away from the plants.  

Harvesting and storage

Maincrop potatoes can be harvested after about 15-20 weeks or at the end of the growing season. They can be left in the soil until the first frosts and then lifted, dried and stored in a dark, airy, frost-free place. Hessian or paper sacks are best for storing. Avoid using polythene bags or sacks as potatoes will sweat and rot.

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Customer Reviews
Write a Review and share your opinions!
3 Reviews:

Maris Piper
Rating:
13 April 2015  |  Larry

Was told that only red potatoes would be successful on our allotment but tried some of these from a friend with great results! Definitely getting some more.


1st Time Success
Rating:
20 January 2014  |  John

As a new allotment holder I grew a row these potatoes for the first time last year, the only downside so far is we’ve only got enough left for 1 or 2 meals. They’ve been fantastic, I’ll be growing more this year.


I love this potatoes
Rating:
13 January 2014  |  Adam

I am a huge maris piper fan, having tried loads of other varieties and not found anything that is quite as versatile and tasty. I am really looking forward to growing my own again.