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Growing Potato

(Solanum tuberosum)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
      P P              

(Best months for planting Potato in USA - Zone 5a regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.


  • Plant tuber. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 12 - 16 inches apart
  • Harvest in 15-20 weeks. Dig carefully, avoid damaging the potatoes.
  • Compatible with: Peas, Beans, Brassicas, Sweetcorn, Broad Beans, Nasturtiums, Marigolds
  • Avoid growing with: Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sunflowers, Tomatoes, Rosemary
  • An 'earthed-up' row
  • Potato flowers

Your comments and tips

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05 Apr 13, Ferran (Australia - arid climate)
that's some fast growing plants! After flowering they will die back, that is when you harvest. If the growth is out of proportion to your potatoes when you harvest then the soil had too much nitrogen promoting leaf growth and hindering the roots. my garden has some naturally growing potato left in the soil from last harvest spouted 4weeks ago and now flowering normally they would not be there but they were deeper than I was dinging at harvest. If you are practicing rotation cops do not!!!! plant corn or sun flowers after potatoes it stunts them. beans are good. potatoes should not be in the same place for seven years after seven years the chemicals that are put in the soil by potatoes as well as disease and pests should have gone from the soil.
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08 Apr 13, Sharon (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks for that advice....But what about my question re "They have grown stems, leaves, flowers....which I just noticed have turned into little green fruit-like baby Tomatoes ON THE STEMS. Is this normal"? - Sharon, Sydney
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10 Apr 13, Alice (Australia - temperate climate)
They are the potato "fruit" (potatoes are the tuber bits under the ground). DO NOT EAT THEM!! They're highly toxic. Chop them up, wash the seeds and plant them, and you'll get more potato plants!
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25 Mar 13, al (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Albury NSW when is the best time to plant spuds
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25 Mar 13, Steve H (Australia - temperate climate)
I'd never grow spuds in the ground. It's too hard to dig them up without damaging them. Instead why don't you try this. Grab a plastic rubbish bin and put some holes in the bottom for drainage Put 3 inches of straw in the bottom covered by a bit of mushroom compost or soil for a bed. Add your seed potatoes or eyes and cover with 3 inches of straw and 2 inches of soil. Liberally sprinkle with a good quality fetiliser. Keep this blend damp. When the potato plants show through, cover again with the same mix of straw, fertiliser and soil. Repeat until the bin is full and then allow the plants to mature as they grow out the top. When ready for harvest simply tip out your lovely clean spuds
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25 Mar 13, Gary (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Peter,,just a note from comments above, it is not advised to grow potatoes in tyres because of heavy metal leaching.
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02 Mar 13, Rachel (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi. I live in Sydney in a frost free area. Can I plant potatoes now and, if so, what would be good varieties? Thanks :-)
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04 Mar 13, Kevin (Australia - temperate climate)
Rachael , Have you checked that you can get your seed potato's ,because they are not available where I am in Qld!!
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19 Mar 13, Kevin (Australia - temperate climate)
Rachel, seed potatoes are now available from Green Harvest Maleny web site order online.
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12 Feb 13, SarahH (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Keen to buy Russett Burbank potato seeds in Canberra area or online but can't find anyone who can ship before June?! Any ideas for good online suppliers? Really need to plant asap. Any ideas greatly appreciated :)
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Post a question, comment or tip about Potato

The potato plants in our pre-school are starting to die down and ready for harvest in about two weeks. The children are eager to harvest them. Can the pre-school catering cook, clean and cook the potatoes immediately after harvesting them, or do they have to cure first for 10 days? thank you Grandmother to a pre-schooler Sylvana

- Sylvana


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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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