Plant of the week: Potato 'Sarpo Mira'

At last – a spud that's very resistant to blight
Potato ‘Sarpo Mira’
Potato 'Sarpo Mira' is very resistant to the devastating fungal disease blight

What is it? If you've given up growing potatoes after repeated knockbacks from disease, don't despair. Hope comes in the form of the 'Sarpo Mira' spud, (pronounced "sharpo"), which is very resistant to the devastating fungal disease blight. Expect generous yields of red-skinned, floury tubers that are perfect for mash, chips and roasting.

Plant it with? Start with weed-free ground. Create a drill about 12.5cm deep, and leave 40cm between tubers and 75cm between rows. Draw up soil to form a ridge over the row, or individual mounds over each tuber. Continue this "earthing up" once the first shoots have broken the surface, continuing until the tops of the plants meet across the rows.

Or grow in a large container: in late spring, plant four seed potatoes per pot or sack on top of 20cm of potting compost plus a handful of potato fertiliser. Cover with 15cm more compost and water well. As they grow, add more compost until you reach the top of the container.

And where? Choose a spot in full sun.

Any drawbacks? If you leave the foliage on too long, the tubers can become fibrous – cut foliage to the ground in August to prevent this.

What else does it do? 'Sarpo Mira' shrugs off wireworms, slugs and viruses, and is drought-resistant.

Buy it Order 20 tubers for £7.99 or 60 for £11.99 (all orders include free UK mainland p&p). To order, call 0330 333 6856, quoting ref GU17, or visit our Reader Offers page. Supplied as tubers. Delivery from March.