The SRUC 2026 plot at this year’s Potatoes in Practice is exploring a long-debated question for potato growers: is it better to plant according to a traditional calendar date, or should planting begin at the first sign of favourable environmental conditions to maximise time in the ground? 

By comparing beds planted from the 5th May to 23rd June at seven-day intervals, the plot provides a unique opportunity to examine how planting dates influence crop development, canopy cover, yield, and tuber quality under Scottish growing conditions.