Potato Tuber 'Home Guard'

This first early variety was first introduced in 1942 and was grown by Jeremy Shirley's father in the late 1940s - the Dad's Army days!

Home Guard is a superior potato of excellent flavour that does not go floury like some varieties, making it an excellent boiling potato. Both the skin and flesh are pure white.

High-yielding and with good resistance to scab, which explains why this popular wartime variety found huge commercial success - and has continued to remain one of the gardener's favourites since WWII.

• Chit tubers by placing 'eye' face up in egg boxes or shallow trays and standing in a warm light location.
• Once small green shoots (or chits) appear move to a cooler location for a few weeks before planting out.
• Best planted out mid March-April. Later plantings will be fine but yield may be smaller.
• Dig trenches approximately 5" (12 cm) deep and 2 feet (60 cm) apart.
• Press tubers into the base of the trench 12" (30 cm) apart with chits facing up and cover with soil.
• Water in and keep the crop well watered in dry spells.
• When the haulm (top growth of the plants) reaches 9" (23 cm) earth up around the plants leaving just the top 4" (10 cm) showing - repeat again later if required.
• Potatoes should be ready for harvest approximately 10-15 weeks after planting.