An expert has shared the vegetable that Brits should start growing now. It might seem like it’s way too early to start thinking about your Christmas dinner, but as gardeners know, good things take time. Growing certain vegetables and herbs takes patience, and to make sure you have the very best ones for your festive celebrations in 2025, you should start thinking about getting things growing right now.
Hayden Salt, garden centre manager at Jacksons Nurseries, revealed that potatoes are ready to plant in the summer. Potatoes are an essential part of a Christmas dinner, and many Brits like to grow their own to make as part of their show-stopping festive meal on December 25. Roasting potatoes has been a favourite way to enjoy them at Christmas for generations, and with just a few seasonings and herbs, they can be the true star of the show on your Christmas dinner plate. If you want to grow your own, Hayden says that it’s important to get started now, even though it’s the middle of summer.
“Potatoes that are ready to plant in the summer are referred to as second-cropping potatoes,” Hayden said. “They are the same as normal potatoes sold for planting in the spring. However, they have been held back in cold conditions so they can be planted later in the season.
“They are a great way to prolong the harvest from your garden – and are sure to impress guests over your Christmas dinner.”
Hayden added: “I find the easiest way to plant potatoes is to pot them up in very large containers. Fill the container with compost, plant the seeds about 10cm to 15cm deep and cover with another layer of compost.
“When you start to see shoots, cover with more compost. This is a process known as ‘earthing up’ and protects the starchy vegetables as they develop. Put the containers in a sunny position and water them regularly to keep the compost moist.”
The plants will enjoy the current warm weather conditions, but when the seasons start to change, you might need to move them into a greenhouse to keep them warm.
“After around 10-12 weeks, once the foliage has started to turn yellow and die back, the potatoes will be ready to lift,” Hayden added. “You can cook and eat them straight away, or store them in a cool, dark, frost-free place until you’re ready to enjoy crispy roast potatoes with your Christmas dinner.”
There are a number of ways to make the best roast potatoes, whether it’s in the oven or in the air fryer. Most simply use a bit of oil along with their chosen herbs and spices to make the best roasties.
