Growing Potato

Solanum tuberosum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      P P              

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

  • P = Plant seed potatoes
  • 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 (can grow beside): Peas, Beans, Brassicas, Sweetcorn, Broad Beans, Nasturtiums, Marigolds
  • Avoid growing close to: Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sunflowers, Tomatoes, Rosemary

Your comments and tips

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29 Oct 14, Genevieve (Australia - temperate climate)
Absolutely, can't plant potatoes in the same spot for 3-4 years unfortunately due to diseases.
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30 Oct 14, Lachlan (Australia - temperate climate)
But they are not in the soil.
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15 Nov 14, Genevieve (Australia - temperate climate)
Unsure what you have in your no dig, but used some manured soils, first time I did it , and was advised not to plants spuds in the same spot Now do it in bags, maybe a horticulturist could give you advise.
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24 Sep 14, Rowena (Australia - temperate climate)
How do I stop my potato patch from becoming a compost heap? I prepared my soil and when the plants emerged I put a wire cage around them (3ft). They then proceeded to quickly shoot up. I layered straw up around them until the plants reached the height of the wire. I watered the straw once by hand as rain has been good. Then yesterday - 3 days after the hand water - I discovered that two of my plants had wilted and on further investigation they had rotted off just below the first few centimetres of straw on top. I put my hand down into the straw and found it to be an oven - perfect for a compost heap. Should I poke holes in the mound to allow air to circulate? What can I do to save my other plants?
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11 Sep 14, Jean Bittkau (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
You can cut off a piece of potato with 2 eyes . Let the cut dry out for a day or two. This helps seal in moisture and prevents rot setting in.
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05 Aug 14, MBUSO (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi can you please assist i have 1.5 hectors which i want to plant potatoes in the rural areas of White River Mpumalanga. i want to know is it a good place for potatoes or not? Water is also not enough in the place. Where can i buy seed that will adapt to my place conditions.
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04 Aug 14, (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
what is the best way to control potato disease,weeds etc?
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26 Jul 14, Victor (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I have been growing my own potatoes,for house use,successfully for a couple of years.Never realy got nice big tubers but they where eatable.
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19 Jul 14, Vincent (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I have never planted potatoes before. do you have any places for workshops in Gauteng?
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01 Jul 14, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Is it possible to grow potatoes relying on rainfall
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Showing 531 - 540 of 832 comments
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Most people grow potatoes from “seed potatoes”. Some people chose to grow their potatoes from actual seeds – think tomato seed. These seeds are called “True potato seeds”. The reasons to grow potatoes from TPS are numerous. The main reasons tend to be: more variety, and cultivating a variety that is well suited to your conditions. When the intent is to cultivate a variety well suited to your taste and growing conditions you generally purchase a package of say Andean TPS. This package will contain MANY different kinds of potatoes: flesh and skin colours. It will also contain short day, day neutral and long day potatoes; their ideal climates may differ. The idea is to grow as many of the potatoes as you can first year; some will grow well, some will not grow, some will grow poorly and some might just LOVE your place. Some will set a lot of potatoes, and some will set fewer; the idea is to find the potato/potato plant you like best – then save those potatoes to use as seed potatoes next year. In the first year you really don’t expect to have eating potatoes – it’s a year to find your potato variety. When growing from TPS you start the seeds early indoors, like you might do for tomatoes. Then transplant outdoors at the appropriate time.

- Celeste Archer

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