potato 'Sharpe's Express'
potato - first early, Scottish basic seed potato
'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.
We sell potatoes by weight but you can expect to receive about 25 tubers of this variety in a 2kg bag.
We sell potatoes by weight but you can expect to receive about 25 tubers of this variety in a 2kg bag.
How to care for potato Sharpe's Express:
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.
Early cultivars can be planted and protected from harsh frost with horticultural fleece protection (typically from late February).
Dig a trench 8-13cm (3-5in) deep, adding a general-purpose fertiliser at the trench's bottom. Plant the potato tubers in the trenches, ensuring they are about 30cm (12in) apart, with shoots facing upward and being cautious not to damage them. Lightly cover them with soil.
Once the plants reach around 20cm (8in) 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.
Early cultivars can be planted and protected from harsh frost with horticultural fleece protection (typically from late February).
Dig a trench 8-13cm (3-5in) deep, adding a general-purpose fertiliser at the trench's bottom. Plant the potato tubers in the trenches, ensuring they are about 30cm (12in) apart, with shoots facing upward and being cautious not to damage them. Lightly cover them with soil.
Once the plants reach around 20cm (8in) 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.
Eventual height:
0.6m
Eventual spread:
0.45m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Fast-growing
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Frost tender
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Humans/Pets: Seed potatoes and plants - Harmful if eaten
Unavailable
Bulbs (only)£4.95
