Early potatoes: definition and varieties

Q: What are early potatoes?

Early potatoes are potatoes harvested before they are fully ripe. They have thin skins and tender, slightly sweet flesh. They have a short shelf life and are eaten immediately after harvesting.

Q: What's the difference between new and early potatoes?

Early potatoes and new potatoes are Solanum tuberosum plants harvested before they reach full maturity. The two terms are often used synonymously. But some market gardeners make a difference. New potatoes are harvested first, between 60 and 75 days after planting. New potatoes are harvested later, up to 90 days after planting.

Q: How long can I keep new potatoes?

Early potatoes keep for less than a week. Their thin skin makes them fragile and sensitive to humidity and light. We recommend keeping them in a cool, dry place, away from light, and eating them as soon as possible after purchase.

Q: What should I use to plant potatoes?

Potatoes benefit from association with garlic, onions, beans, peas, cabbage and corn.Avoid proximity to tomatoes and eggplants. They belong to the same family. They consume the same nutrients and suffer from the same diseases.Don't forget to rotate your crops. After your harvest, wait four years before planting potatoes again in the same spot.

The term “new potato” refers to a tuber harvested before it reaches full physiological maturity. It is not a single botanical variety, but rather a specific stage of development of Solanum tuberosum (Solanum tuberosum).

How can you recognize a new potato?

New potatoes have the same physical characteristics as other potatoes. They are perennial plants, grown as annuals, with an upright growth habit. They can grow over one meter tall.

Its stems, which may be hairless or hairy, are green, purple, or bicolored. They support medium-green foliage. The deciduous, pinnate leaves have between 7 and 9 lobes.

The flowers, which are white or blue with a yellow center, appear in corymbs at the tips of the leaves. They then develop into a round, yellow-green berry.

To produce new potatoes, the tuber (a part of the root) must be harvested before it is fully mature. Its shape and color depend on the variety. It can be elongated, cylindrical, oblong, yellow, green…But early harvesting results in:

A very thin, translucent skin that is easy to peel;
Very moist flesh and a low starch content;
Barely formed vegetative buds.

Which potato varieties should you grow as early potatoes?

In theory, you can grow any potato variety as an early crop and harvest them as soon as they flower. However , certain varieties—known as early varieties because they mature faster—are particularly well-suited. For example, you can plant:

'Belle de Fontenay';
'Celtiane';
'Linzer Delikatess';
'Rosabelle';
the Amandine Potato'.

Are new potatoes poisonous?

No, new potatoes are not toxic. They are grown for their edible tubers.

However, potatoes contain solanine. The concentration is high in the flowers and berries, which should not be eaten.

In addition, a green tuber indicates a high concentration of solanine. In this case, you should not eat it.

Our care tips

The winter before planting, work the soil to a depth of 20 cm to loosen it. Add a potassium-rich fertilizer to enrich it.

Watering

Water without wetting the foliage, either at the base of your Early potato, or between the rows.

Adapt the amount of water to the development of the plant. Your watering should be more copious during the flowering period, without soaking the soil. Reduce the volume when the foliage starts to turn yellow.

Planting

Work the soil to a depth of 20 centimetres. Add a potassium-rich fertilizer.

Dig furrows 8 to 10 centimetres deep. If you're planting several rows, space them at least 50 centimetres apart.

Plant your tubers, sprout side up. Leave 30 centimetres between plants. Cover with soil and form a mound about 15 cm high to prevent the tuber from catching the light.

Cover your plants with a tunnel, wintering or forcing sheet to protect them from the cold.

Hilling

Plug your plants regularly to encourage production.

Weed around the base of your Solanum tuberosum. After that, it will be too late: ridging will bury weeds under the soil.

Scrape the soil between the rows to loosen it. Using your hoe or ridger, pull the soil from each side of the row towards the stem. Form a mound about 15 to 20 cm high. Only the top 5 to 10 cm of foliage should remain visible.

Frequently asked questions

What are early potatoes?

Early potatoes are potatoes harvested before they are fully ripe. They have thin skins and tender, slightly sweet flesh. They have a short shelf life and are eaten immediately after harvesting.

What are the varieties of early potato?

There are no specific varieties of early potato. You can grow any variety of Solanum tuberosum and harvest before maturity. However, short-cycle varieties such as the Charlotte Potato, Amandine, Belle de Fontenay or Sirtema are more suitable for this purpose.

What's the difference between new and early potatoes?

Early potatoes and new potatoes are Solanum tuberosum plants harvested before they reach full maturity. The two terms are often used synonymously. But some market gardeners make a difference. New potatoes are harvested first, between 60 and 75 days after planting. New potatoes are harvested later, up to 90 days after planting.

How long can I keep new potatoes?

Early potatoes keep for less than a week. Their thin skin makes them fragile and sensitive to humidity and light. We recommend keeping them in a cool, dry place, away from light, and eating them as soon as possible after purchase.