We’re all itching to get out into the garden, but the garden won’t be ready for weeks yet. So let’s look at indoors and get organised for the coming months.

February remains a great month to buy seed potatoes, get them chitted  and planted. We have a great variety in store and a helpful ‘pick-up guide’ for the beginner. Here at Pentland Plants we encourage our gardeners to get involved and get growing. It’s not just satisfying to see something grow from a seed but the end result is ultimately rewarding.

Seed sowing is well under way in February. But it’s not too late to get started with your seed packets and propagationequipment. We stock everything for the windowsill gardener to the greenhouse enthusiast. If you’re using a greenhouse don’t forget to fumigate it before placing out your freshly planted seed trays! 

Houseplants are a favourite and their popularity has exploded over the past couple of years. Houseplants add atmosphere, colour, improve air quality and can provide a range of mental and physical health benefits. At Pentland Plants we always stock a selection of the best houseplants. Did you know indoor plants such as Weeping fig , Boston fern, Aloe Vera , rubber plants and  mother in laws tongue improve the air quality help us sleep!

Houseplants look complete dressed in a suitable pot. It used to be that the most common container was the clay pot, but today we have a selection of decorative pots to choose from which are available in an almost infinite variety of materials, types, size and colour. 

Choosing the right pot is very important but so are the compost and feed. Houseplants are individual and so are their needs. Plants require different types of nutrients but don’t let this faze you as we are here to help you select the right product to keep your plants blooming and looking great.

Not all houseplant require compost , air plants originating from South America a very much back in vogue…. There exotic looking foliage and  flowers make them intriguing and a popular plant to grow in the home and conservatory. 

Herbs are back in store and we have a great variety whether you use them for their aromatic qualities or the culinary table. 

So, lets get planting and creative…. Our team are here to answer your questions and help you with new projects and ideas.

Fancy growing your own potatoes this year? Now is the perfect time to get started and we have everything in stock that you'll need! Get to know the varieties available and find out which potatoes will be best for you in our handy guide...

Maris piper
(Maincrop)
Good all rounder. Dry, floury, creamy white flesh. Good flavour. 
Plant in March / April. Harvest in September / October
Great for chipping and baking!

King Edward
(Maincrop)

An attractive potato. Yellow skin with pink eyes. Creamy white flesh that rarely discolours on cooking.
Good for boiling / chipping and great for baking
Plant in March / April. Harvest in September / October

Pink Fir Apple (Maincrop)
Firm fleshed, nutty flavour. Best sliced and cook the unpeeled tubers as you would for new potatoes. Excellent boiled or for salad use in winter
Plant March / April. Harvest in September / October

Desiree
(Maincrop)
Red skinned, pale yellow firm flesh. Good all round cooker. Rarely discolours after cooking
Plant March / April. Harvest in September / October

Rooster
(Maincrop)
Red skinned, good all round cooking qualities. Suitable for boiling, baking and Chipping
Plant in March / April. Harvest in September / October

Picasso
(Maincrop)
Very attractive potato with good cooking qualities. Good salad potato
Great for boiling
Plant in March / April. Harvest in August / September

Golden Wonder
(Maincrop)
Pale lemon flesh. Great flavour. Ideal for soup, chipping and baking.
Plant in March./ April. Harvest In October

Rocket (1st Early)
A very early maturing variety and an excellent yielder. Round, white fleshed tubers which are resistant to blackleg. 
Good for boiling and baking
Plant in March / April. Harvest in June / July

Arran Pilot
(1st Early)
A white, almost greyish white fleshed variety with a firm waxy texture that does not disintegrate on cooking. Pleasing flavour. 
Good for boiling and baking
Plant in March. Harvest in July

Athlete
(1st Early)
Produces a lot of small pale yellow fleshed tubers. Excellent flavour. Great salad potato and superb blight resistance. 
Plant in March / April. Harvest in July / August

Red Duke of York
(1st Early)
A very deep red early potato which is softer and more moist than white Duke of York
Great for boiling
Plant in March / April. Harvest in July / August

Wilja
(2nd Early)
Pale yellow fleshed. Firm, dry texture. Excellent flavour, great baker. A good table potato, at it’s best before Christmas
Great for baking
Plant in March / April. Harvest in August / September

Maris Peer
(2nd Early)
Creamy white flesh. Good salad potato. Throws plenty of small potatoes. Great for baking
Plant in March / April. Harvest in August / September

Kestrel
(2nd Early)
Creamy flesh. Dry texture. Good flavour. Purple eyes. Ideal show potato
Great for baking
Plant in March / April. Harvest in August / September

Charlotte
(2nd Early)
Excellent cooking potato. Great for salads. Low dry matter which means it is less likely to ‘boil away’
Great for boiling and baking
Plant in March / April. Harvest in August / September

New to growing vegetables? Need a little help on where to start? Please just ask a member of our team. They'll be very happy to help! 

Growing potatoes in containers is really easy and the perfect solution if you want to grow your own but have limited space. There is also much less chance of soil borne pests and diseases.

Now is the perfect time to get started and we're fully stocked with everything you'll need.

Why not have a go?! Our easy to follow, step by step guide will tell you how...

What you need:
Potato bag or container
Multipurpose or vegetable compost
Seed potatoes 3/5 depending on size of container 
Potato fertiliser 

How to do it 
Fill the container up with the compost.
Plant the potatoes 12-15cm into the compost and cover.
Incorporate fertiliser into the top 10cm of compost.
Water in well.
Place in a bright, frost free place and water when the compost begins to dry out. 

Chitting 
First and second early varieties particularly benefit from chitting which is the process of producing shoots before planting. This will  produce faster growth and heavier crops.
Sit the potatoes in egg boxes with the most “eyes” facing upwards and place in a bright frost free room.
Plant out when the shoots are about 2.5cm tall between early March and end of May.

Harvesting
First and second early varieties can be harvested when the plants begin to flower. Have a dig under the compost to make sure they are big enough. With main crops wait until 2 weeks after the leaves have withered.   

Storing
Lay out to dry, then store in hessian or paper bags in a dark, cool place.

Handy info
Smaller early new potatoes take 10 weeks from planting to cropping, second early 13 weeks and large main crop varieties for baking take 15 -20 weeks. Main crop are better suited to growing in the ground but can also be planted in containers!

Sunday roast lunches

Our hearty Sunday roasts are back. Available every Sunday 12 - 3.30pm in Cafe Panola. There's a choice of two roast meats served with fluffy roast potatoes or mash, seasonal vegetables, Yorkshire puds and gravy - Come in, cosy up and enjoy proper homemade food in Cafe Panola this January.

Only £8.95 (small portion £5.95)