Growing Potato

Solanum tuberosum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

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

(Best months for growing Potato in USA - Zone 11a 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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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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19 May 14, leseli (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Dear Sir/Madam I'm leseli like to plant potatoes in August 2014 im in Matatiele Next to Kokstard in Estern Cape What i really need on is all the tips that u can give me is my first time to plant potatoes and im willing to make it. where to get the right seed my ph on the siol must be.
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11 May 14, mapula (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
hi lydia I am Mapula in limpopo want to plant potatoes.Were can i buy potato seedsin limpopo or gauteng. thanks
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04 Mar 14, kenneth Ntshingila (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
have 3hactors land,good deep soil available for potatoe planting.can get 3000 litre of water per hour is the water enough .What is the best seed to plant in Randfontein area
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26 Jan 14, Siya (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can i plant potatoes in late january in pietermaritzburg
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Showing 91 - 100 of 114 comments
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I forgot to mention -- and kept forgetting to post this additional part. When you are "hilling up" you are actually burying LEAVES. Leaves have specialized tissue to COLLECT LIGHT -- that is to say, they are NOT ROOTS -- so to me, burying leaves is NOT CORRECT. It may help to get the potatoes producing sooner, BUT somehow to me if a potato plant made leaves it wanted to collect light -- roots are different, they are sort of thin and round/tube like and are used to transport water and nutrients -- AGAIN: leaves are leaves and roots are roots -- and when I stop and think about it burying leaves doesn't seem right... and my gut instinct is saying that it is not correct. I have also noticed that roots are thinner, and are probably easier for the plant to make/grow -- leaves look like they take a lot of work/nutrition -- so why bury something that is specialized to be above the ground???....... again, the pros may say otherwise and have lots of data and past successes to prove their view point. I have done it both ways (not sure why I did- but I did) and really have not noticed any differences in OVERALL potato production.... so why bury the leaves and make all that extra work hilling up ??? Also, potato tubers seem to like lots of air flow... so make sure the soil is light or ir your in containers ensure lots of holes near the bottom sides to create updrafts..

- Celeste Archer

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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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