Solanum tuberosum 'Rooster'

RHS Plant Profile
potato 'Rooster'

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This maincrop is hugely popular due to its beautiful taste, good yields and versatility. It is easily recognisable by its red skin and creamy yellow flesh and makes excellent chips, mash, roasties and jacket potatoes! Shows some resistance to blackleg and leafroll virus

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Solanaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Clump forming
Potentially harmful
Harmful if eaten; except potato crop. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs): Harmful if eaten; except potato crop - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus
Solanum can be annuals, perennials, evergreen or deciduous shrubs or twining climbers, with simple or pinnnately lobed leaves and star- or bowl-shaped, 5-lobed flowers with prominent stamens, followed by fleshy fruits
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in an open, frost-free site with deep, fertile, moisture-retentive soil for high quality and heavy yields. Improve soil by adding organic matter, such as well-rotted manure, in the autumn. Draw earth up around the stems as they emerge, to exclude light and prevent the potatoes from becoming green. Water well in dry periods. Potatoes can also be grown in large containers or potato gro-bags. See potato cultivation for further advice.

Propagation

Propagate by chitting tubers or 'seed potatoes'. This is done by standing the tubers 'rose-end' up (the end with the most eyes) in egg boxes or trays in a cool, light place. After two to three weeks the shoots will begin to sprout. Plant out after frosts have passed, from about mid March to mid April.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Cottage and informal garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to Potato cyst nematodes and may be susceptible to cutworms, slugs, wireworms, leaf and bud eelworm

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely). Shows some resistance to Potato blackleg and potato leafroll virus but may be susceptible to Potato scab, Potato blight, Potato rot and stem canker