Position

Sun exposure:
Full sun
Aspect:
South facing, west facing

Soil

Prefers rich soil:
Chalky / Alkaline / Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy

The Desire potato (Solanum tuberosum 'Desiree') is a maincrop potato with a red skin and a firm waxy, yellowish flesh, with a distinctive flavour. Best for baking, Desiree potatoes can also be boiled, mashed or chipped, but don't work so well steamed, or as a salad potato. Desiree potatoes show some resistance to blight, drought and scab.

Maincrop potatoes occupy the ground longer than other potatoes, but produce the heaviest yields, often with very large tubers. Typically, they're planted in April and harvested from August to October.

Plant Desiree potatoes as you would any other maincrop variety, from mid-spring (usually mid- to late-April, depending on where you are in the country). Prepare the soil well and incorporate plenty of organic matter before planting in a trench 12cm deep or in individual planting holes. You may wish to 'chit' your potatoes by leaving them in a cool, light spot for a couple of weeks before planting, to encourage the tubers to form shoots – this is said to help improve potato yields. Water in dry periods only and then again when the plants start to flower, The potatoes will be ready to harvest after the foliage has died down, typically from mid-August to October. Water plants thoroughly two weeks before harvesting.

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Advice on buying Desiree potatoes

  • You can buy Desiree potatoes from garden centres from January to around April, but you may find you have more choice if buying online Always check potato tubers for signs of disease or damage before buying or planting

Where to buy Desiree potatoes

Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Plantyesyesyes
Harvestyesyesyes

Solanum ‘Desiree’ and wildlife

Solanum ‘Desiree’ has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.

Is Solanum ‘Desiree’ poisonous?

Solanum ‘Desiree’ can be toxic.

Toxic to:
Is known to attract Cats
Cats
Is known to attract Dogs
Dogs
Is known to attract Horses
Horses
No reported toxicity to:
Is not known to attract Birds
Birds
Is not known to attract Livestock
Livestock
Is not known to attract People
People
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