FIRST EARLIERS SHARPES EXPRESS*

First Earlies Sharpes Express Seed Potatoes Planting Guide

Sharpes Express is a classic first early potato variety that has delighted gardeners and cooks for generations. Known for its firm texture, creamy flavor, and excellent cooking versatility, it’s a must-have for any potato grower. This guide will help you plant, grow, and harvest Sharpes Express seed potatoes for a bountiful and delicious crop.

Key Features of Sharpes Express Seed Potatoes

• Harvest Time: Approximately 10–12 weeks after planting.
• Height: Reaches up to 60cm (24 inches).
• Spread: Spreads around 30–40cm (12–16 inches).
• Appearance: Pale yellow skin with creamy, white flesh.
• Taste: Distinctive nutty flavor, perfect for boiling, steaming, or salads.
• Heritage Variety: Introduced in 1901, this variety remains a favorite due to its reliable performance and quality.

How to Plant Sharpes Express Seed Potatoes

Chitting Your Seed Potatoes

To encourage early sprouting, follow these steps:

1. Place the seed potatoes in a cool, bright, frost-free area.
2. Position the rose end (the end with the most eyes) upwards.
3. Allow sprouts to grow to about 2–3cm before planting.

Choosing the Perfect Site

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil is ideal. Improve poor soil by adding compost or organic matter.
• Location: A sunny, sheltered spot will promote healthy growth and early harvests.

Planting Steps

1. Timing: Plant Sharpes Express seed potatoes between March and April, once the soil has warmed.
2. Spacing:
   • Space seed potatoes 30cm (12 inches) apart in rows.
   • Keep rows 60cm (24 inches) apart for adequate growth and maintenance access.
3. Depth: Dig trenches 10–15cm (4–6 inches) deep and place the seed potatoes with the sprouts facing up. Cover with soil.

Maintenance Tips for Sharpes Express Seed Potatoes

Watering

• Water regularly, especially during dry periods, ensuring the soil remains moist but not waterlogged.
• Increase watering when the plants begin to flower, as this is when tubers are forming.

Earthing Up

• As the shoots emerge, draw soil around the base of the plants to create ridges.
• Repeat this process as the plants grow, ensuring tubers remain covered to prevent greening.

Feeding

• Use a general-purpose potato fertilizer at planting time and during the growing season.
• Avoid excessive nitrogen, as this can lead to more foliage and fewer tubers.

Pest and Disease Management

• Pests: Look out for slugs, aphids, and potato beetles. Use natural deterrents like copper tape or companion planting with marigolds.
• Diseases: Sharpes Express has good resistance to many common potato diseases, but practice crop rotation to reduce the risk of blight.

Harvesting and Storing Sharpes Express Potatoes

Harvesting

• Sharpes Express is ready to harvest when the plants flower, approximately 10–12 weeks after planting.
• Use a garden fork to carefully lift the plants, ensuring minimal damage to the tubers.

Storing

• Allow freshly harvested potatoes to dry for a few hours in a cool, shaded area.
• Store in hessian sacks or breathable containers in a dark, frost-free location.

Why Grow Sharpes Express Potatoes?

Heritage Flavor

• Enjoy the traditional nutty flavor that has made Sharpes Express a beloved variety for over a century.

Versatile Use

• Perfect for boiling, steaming, or making light, fluffy mashed potatoes.

Reliable Yields

• Sharpes Express delivers consistent results with minimal effort, making it an excellent choice for gardeners of all skill levels.

Companion Planting and Additional Tips

• Companion Plants: Pair Sharpes Express with marigolds or nasturtiums to deter pests naturally.
• Crop Rotation: Avoid planting potatoes in the same spot two years in a row to prevent soil-borne diseases.

Visit our garden center today to pick up Sharpes Express seed potatoes and enjoy a dependable, delicious early harvest that’s perfect for all your culinary creations!

• Size
  2kg

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.