Grow your own Potatoes - IPM Online Store launched January 2010.

You can now purchase IPM's 5 tuber packs of seed potatoes online which can be delivered anywhere within the European Union.

Choose from IPM's exclusive range of Irish Bred seed potato varieties like Colleen, Orla and Druid.  Delivered direct to your door to enjoy planting, growing and eating.

Visit IPM's online store here.

Discover Your Gardens Treasure - Growing potatoes is easy and lots of fun!

From planting to plate, potatoes offer a unique experience which can be shared with friends and family: Experience the excitement of planting your seed in Spring; the enormous pride of watching them grow throughout the Summer; the sense of wonder and achievement of harvesting them; and then the rewarding pleasure of cooking and eating your very own crop of delicious and nutritious potatoes.

IPM have developed a range of exclusive varieties specially selected for home growing - Cara, Colleen, Druid, Orla and Ireland’s favourite variety Rooster. We also offer a collection of old familiar favourites. IPM varieties have long been known to be highly resistant to the most common diseases affecting potatoes such as blight and viruses, making them ideal for organic growing. We market our seed potatoes in convenient 2.5kg packs which are available in Irish Garden Centres Nationwide.

Growing Instructions: 

Chitting: After you purchase your seed potatoes, you should chit (sprout) them. Place the seed potatoes in a shallow tray (an egg carton is ideal), with any shoots facing upwards. They should then be placed in a cool, light place, which is protected from frost. Soon the seed potatoes will produce strong, healthy sprouts, which will ensure they get off to a great start as soon as you are ready to plant them. 

Timing: Tubers should be planted into warm, fertilised soil once the risk of frost has passed. Alternatively they can be grown in large pots either indoors or outdoors. 

Outdoor planting: Plant your seed potatoes after the risk of frost has passed. Tubers should be planted 4in (10cm) deep and 10in (25cm) apart with the shoots facing upwards.  Leave 24in (60cm) between each row for growth. Ideally, First Earlies should be planted between March and April and Second Earlies, Maincrop and Salads should be planted between April and May. 

Indoor planting: You should be able to plant two seed potatoes per 30cm pot. You can plant pots from February onwards, provided they are kept indoors initially, then moved outside once the risk of frost has passed. Alternatively, you can grow your seed potatoes in a greenhouse, for a very early crop of new potatoes. 

Care: Once your potato plants have emerged to a height of 8in (20cm) it is recommended that soil should be piled up around them (earthed up). This will prevent light getting to the tubers (they can go green if this happens) and will create better drainage and give the plant more room to grow. This process can be continued throughout the growing season until the plants have grown too big to allow this to happen. 

Harvesting: First Earlies are best harvested in small quantities, when the first flowers appear, and cooked immediately so that the flavor is retained. Second Earlies can be lifted during the same period as the First Earlies or two-three weeks later. Main crop potatoes are best lifted once the foliage has died back in the autumn. 

Storage: Once harvested, your Main Crop potatoes should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place away from any likely frost – ready for you to enjoy at any time.