Exploring The Different Types Of Potatoes

Potatoes are super-versatile and are a staple ingredient of many meals in one form or another, whether boiled, mashed, chipped, roasted, or baked. Freshly dug and lightly boiled with mint, cooled, and eaten with salads, or mashed with mustard, they just can't be beaten.

 For a comprehensive guide to growing potatoes, including how to grow them and when is the best time to plant them and harvest, be sure to check out our how to grow potatoes guide after you discover the ideal potato varieties for you below!

Maincrop and Early Potatoes

Before you plant, decide what type of potato you want in your pantry. There are two main varieties: maincrops and earlies. Maincrop potatoes are usually bulkier and provide a bigger harvest. Harvested in late summer or autumn, they can generally be stored for winter use.

Early potatoes are ready from early to mid-summer and are divided into first earlies and second earlies. Earlies are first to crop and are smaller than maincrop potatoes, but arguably have the best flavour and a smooth, waxier texture that’s ideal for salads.

Second earlies follow on a few weeks later and both are sublime when served steaming hot and finished with a drizzle of olive oil.

Potato Varieties

Potatoes come in a range of colours with their outer skins in shades of cream, red, white, brown and even purple. Most varieties have creamy white to yellow centres however some cultivars such as Sapphire have striking purple centres that retain their colour through the cooking process – a real dinner party showstopper! 

Some varieties, particularly Desiree and Kennebec, are versatile and can be mashed, steamed, boiled, and roasted to name a few cooking methods. They also complement many seasonal vegetables which is one of the reasons they’re so popular.

Our range of seed potatoes includes Desiree, Pontiac, Dutch Cream, Sebago, Kipfler, Nicola, and Ruby Lou, as well as many more unique varieties.

We’ve created a handy chart to help you choose the perfect potato variety quickly and easily.

Do Potatoes Have Seeds?

Potato plants can in fact grow and produce small berries that contain seeds, these look like small unripe tomatoes however they are inedible. They are not commonly used to grow new potatoes in the garden as the seeds of a potato plant may not produce true to type. Planting ''seed potato'' which is the tuber of the crop is a much more viable option and guarantees successful crops. 

Why Do Potatoes Turn Green?

Green potatoes are not a fancy new variety but rather the tubers of your plant that have been exposed to sunlight during their growth. It is best to avoid eating them as they may cause some uncomfortable symptoms if eaten in large quantities due to the solanine they contain.

Are Potatoes Healthy?

Potatoes can form part of a healthy diet for most people. Though high in carbohydrates they make an excellent source of energy and can be prepared with minimal ingredients as a delicious starchy staple. By growing your own potatoes you have ultimate control over the soil and growing conditions too, producing excellent nutrient dense crops without any harmful pesticide residues.