potato 'Sharpe's Express'
potato - first early, Scottish basic seed potato
Delivery options
- Bulbs (only) £4.95
- Position: Full sun or partial shade
- Soil: Moderately fertile, well drained soil
- Rate of growth: Fast
- Harvesting period: mid June
- Hardiness: Frost tender (may need protection)
- Garden care: Upon receiving the potato tubers, promptly unpack them and commence the chitting process. Place them in a seed tray or egg box, without compost, in a well-lit and cool area shielded from frost. Begin chitting approximately six weeks prior to your intended planting date. For early varieties, plant and protect against harsh frost with horticultural fleece protection (typically from late February). Dig a trench 8-13cm (3-5") deep, adding a general-purpose fertiliser at the trench's bottom. Plant the potato tubers in the trenches, ensuring they are about 30cm (12") apart, with shoots facing upward and being cautious not to damage them. Lightly cover them with soil. Once the plants reach around 20cm (8") in height, mound up the soil around the base, covering the lower two-thirds of the plant. Adequate watering enhances crop yield and prevents potato scab. Harvest from May to June. 'Sharpe's Express' bulks up slightly later than other first earlies but produces a heavier crop.
We sell potatoes by weight but you can expect to receive about 25 tubers of this variety in a 2kg bag.
'Sharpe's Express' is a heirloom variety introduced in 1900 by Charles Sharpe of Sleaford, Lincolnshire. It is pear-shaped with bright white flesh, smooth skin and a superb 'new potato' flavour. Boil or steam them whole in their skins (they're floury), and enjoy them hot with butter or cold with salads. A favourite amongst 'home-growers' for many years, 'Sharpe's Express' was TV gardener, Percy Thrower’s favourite.
- Humans/Pets: Seed potatoes and plants - Harmful if eaten