Seed Potato 'Swift'

Chitting Your Seed Potatoes

Chitting gives extra early first early potatoes a useful head start before planting. Stand your seed potatoes in an egg box or shallow tray with the end showing the most eyes facing upwards. Keep them somewhere cool, bright and frost-free, ideally around 7–10°C. Over the following weeks, short, sturdy shoots will develop. Avoid warm, dark conditions, which encourage long, weak shoots.

Where to Plant

Choose a sunny position with fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Work well-rotted garden compost or manure into the soil before planting, ideally the previous autumn. Avoid planting potatoes in the same place year after year to help reduce the build-up of soil-borne pests and diseases.

When to Plant

Plant from March to April in most UK gardens, once the soil is workable and beginning to warm. Earlier planting is possible in mild areas or under suitable protection, but young shoots must be protected from frost.

Planting Your Potatoes

Dig a trench approximately 10–15cm deep. Place the seed potatoes around 30cm apart with their shoots facing upwards, allowing approximately 60cm between rows. Cover with soil and water if conditions are dry. 'Swift' has a compact growing habit, making it a good choice for smaller vegetable plots and raised beds.

Earthing Up

When shoots reach around 15–20cm tall, draw loose soil up around the stems, leaving the upper leaves exposed. Repeat as the plants grow. Earthing up helps protect young shoots from frost and keeps developing tubers covered, preventing them from turning green when exposed to daylight.

Watering and Feeding

Keep the soil evenly moist during dry spells, particularly as the tubers begin to develop. Avoid allowing the ground to become waterlogged. Apply a suitable potato fertiliser according to the manufacturer's instructions, taking care not to overfeed with nitrogen.

Growing Under Fleece

'Swift' is well suited to early growing under horticultural fleece. Cover the planted rows or emerging shoots with fleece, securing the edges while leaving enough room for the plants to grow. Fleece can help retain warmth and protect against light frosts, encouraging earlier development. Check plants regularly, ventilate when conditions become warm and remove the covering when it is no longer needed. Fleece is not reliable protection against potato blight.

Pests and Diseases

'Swift' has useful resistance to common scab, but it can still be affected by potato blight and other pests and diseases. Check plants regularly, particularly during warm, humid weather. Remove foliage showing suspected blight symptoms promptly and dispose of it away from your compost heap. Keep the soil evenly moist during tuber development, as dry conditions can encourage common scab, and avoid damaging developing potatoes when cultivating around the plants.

Growing 'Swift' Potatoes in Containers

With its compact, bushy growth, 'Swift' is particularly suitable for potato growing bags, large pots and patio containers. Container growing is a practical way to enjoy early home-grown potatoes when garden space is limited.

Choosing a Container

Choose a container with good drainage. A 30–40 litre pot or growing bag is suitable for two seed potatoes, while a larger 50 litre growing sack can accommodate around three, provided they have enough space to develop. Avoid overcrowding, as this can reduce tuber size.

Planting in a Potato Growing Bag

Place approximately 15cm of good-quality compost in the bottom of the container. Position the seed potatoes with their shoots facing upwards, spacing them evenly, then cover with another 10–15cm of compost. Place the container somewhere bright and sheltered, protecting emerging shoots from frost.

Adding Compost as Plants Grow

As the shoots develop, gradually add more compost around the stems, leaving the upper leaves exposed. Continue until the compost is a few centimetres below the container rim. Keeping the developing potatoes covered prevents exposure to light.

Watering and Feeding

Container-grown potatoes dry out more quickly than those grown in the ground. Check the compost regularly, especially during warm weather, and water thoroughly when needed. Avoid leaving containers standing in water. Feed with a suitable potato fertiliser, following the pack instructions.

Harvesting Potatoes from Containers

One advantage of growing 'Swift' in bags is how easily you can check the developing crop. Carefully feel beneath the compost for suitably sized potatoes, or empty the container when the crop is ready. Handle the tubers gently and keep them out of direct sunlight after harvesting.

When to Harvest 'Swift' Potatoes

'Swift' is an extra early first early potato, bred to produce one of the earliest harvests of the season. Under particularly favourable conditions, small new potatoes may be ready in around eight weeks, although approximately ten weeks after planting is a more realistic guide for many UK gardens. The exact timing depends on planting date, temperature and growing conditions.

Checking Your Potatoes Are Ready

Gently loosen the soil or compost beside one plant and check the size of the developing tubers. You don't need to wait for the foliage to die back if you want tender baby new potatoes. Allow the plants a little longer if you prefer larger tubers.

How to Harvest

Use a garden fork to loosen the soil a short distance from the stems, taking care not to pierce the potatoes. Lift the plant gently and collect the tubers. In containers, carefully empty the compost onto a sheet or suitable surface to find the crop.

Enjoying New Potatoes

'Swift' is particularly good harvested young, while the skins are thin and the flesh is tender. These early potatoes are best enjoyed soon after lifting, when their fresh flavour and texture are at their best.

Can You Store 'Swift' Potatoes?

As an extra early first early variety, 'Swift' is grown primarily for fresh eating rather than long-term storage. Newly harvested potatoes with delicate skins should be used promptly. If you want to keep mature tubers for a short period, allow the skins to set before lifting, then store only sound, dry potatoes somewhere cool, dark and well ventilated.

Important Storage Tips

Keep harvested potatoes away from daylight to prevent greening. Check any stored tubers regularly and remove those showing signs of damage or rot. Do not eat green potatoes or green parts of potatoes.

From Plot to Plate

'Swift' produces smooth, oval potatoes with cream-coloured skins and flesh. Its good boiling qualities make it especially appealing as an early new potato, served simply while the crop is fresh.

Boiling

Boil small 'Swift' potatoes whole or cut larger ones into evenly sized pieces. Cook until just tender, then drain and serve with butter, fresh mint or parsley. Their texture makes them an excellent choice for a simple early summer meal.

Steaming

Steaming is a good way to prepare tender new potatoes without making them waterlogged. Serve with seasonal vegetables, fish or grilled dishes.

Potato Salads

Allow cooked potatoes to cool slightly before tossing them with a light dressing, chopped herbs or spring onions. 'Swift' is a particularly useful variety for fresh summer potato salads.

Roasting

Small new potatoes can also be roasted whole or halved with a little oil and seasoning. Cook until tender inside and lightly golden on the outside.

Preparing Your Harvest

Wash the potatoes gently to remove any soil. Freshly lifted new potatoes often have thin skins that need little preparation, so there's usually no need to peel them before cooking.

What Are Seed Potatoes?

Seed potatoes are specially produced tubers intended for planting rather than eating. Each tuber has buds, known as eyes, which develop into shoots and grow into a new potato plant.

First Early, Second Early and Maincrop Potatoes

First early potatoes are generally the quickest to mature and are usually grown for tender new potatoes in late spring or early summer. Second earlies take a little longer and are generally harvested during summer. Maincrop potatoes have a longer growing season, with many varieties suited to harvesting later and storing through winter.

What Is an Extra Early First Early Potato?

Extra early first early potatoes, such as 'Swift', are particularly quick to mature, making them ideal for gardeners who want to harvest their first new potatoes as early as possible. They can also free up growing space sooner for follow-on crops.

Why Choose a First Early Variety?

First early varieties are ideal when you want to enjoy home-grown potatoes as soon as possible. They are particularly useful for smaller gardens, raised beds and containers, where the space can often be used for another crop once the potatoes have been lifted.

What Size Will My Seed Potatoes Be?

Seed potatoes naturally vary in size and shape. A smaller tuber can grow successfully provided it is healthy and has viable eyes. Pack quantities can vary according to tuber size, particularly when seed potatoes are sold by weight.

Storing Seed Potatoes Before Planting

Unpack your seed potatoes promptly after delivery. Keep them somewhere cool, bright, dry and frost-free until planting. Avoid leaving them sealed in packaging or in a warm, dark place, where long, weak shoots may develop.

What If My Seed Potatoes Have Already Sprouted?

It's normal for seed potatoes to develop shoots before planting. Handle them gently to avoid breaking the shoots and keep them in a cool, bright position until you're ready to plant.

Do I Need to Chit My Seed Potatoes?

Chitting is particularly useful for extra early first early potatoes such as 'Swift', as it encourages short, sturdy shoots before planting and can help give the crop an earlier start. However, seed potatoes can still grow successfully without chitting.

Can I Use Supermarket Potatoes for Planting?

Use certified seed potatoes intended for growing wherever possible. These are produced under seed certification standards and are a more reliable choice than supermarket potatoes, which may carry pests or diseases or have been treated to discourage sprouting.