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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
02 Feb 21, steve (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Can anyone recommend a good place to buy seed potatoes and seeds in general - prices seem to vary hugely
Reply or Post a new comment
28 Mar 21, Lyall (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I picked mine up from Mitre 10 Mega - they gave me an excellent harvest, but I don't recall the specific variety (there was more than one variety available).
Reply or Post a new comment
03 Feb 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Farming produce agencies sometimes have seed potatoes. Research the internet for seed selling companies, they have potatoes also. I have a small family seed seller who charges 1.25 to 2$ for small quantities of seed, other companies up to 3-4-5$
Reply or Post a new comment
04 Feb 21, steve (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
thanks
Reply or Post a new comment
04 Feb 21, Ruth (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
we have good results with seeds potatoes from taspotatoes.com.au and garden express!!
Reply or Post a new comment
26 Jan 21, krissy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
HI I want to grow my own potatoes? which would be the best type to grow in queensland I want to do a NO dig potato bed.
Reply or Post a new comment
27 Jan 21, Anonymous (Australia - arid climate)
Pick the potato you want to grow and grow it. Different potatoes are better for different use in cooking.
Reply or Post a new comment
31 Dec 20, max (USA - Zone 5a climate)
Some gardeners keep stacking wood boxes and a light soil mix as the plants grow. It is said that potatoes will fill the whole stack of boxes. My attempts at this have failed. Can this approach be made to work?
Reply or Post a new comment
27 Mar 21, Sarah (USA - Zone 5b climate)
I tried the same last season and it didn't work for me either...kept hauling dirt and leaves uphill to potato tower with no results come harvest time. That was my first year growing potatoes. I just found out this morning that potatoes can be determinate or indeterminate. Determinate types supposedly have a smaller plant,, harvest earlier, and only grow in one layer thus do not require hilling(although they should be covered enough so roots don't show). I must have planted a determinate variety last year. because mine only grew in one layer. Check the variety you are planning to grow. I bought seed potatoes this year and am about to plant them. I have more confidence now that I know. what they are and how they behave!
Reply or Post a new comment
05 Jan 21, (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Do some research on the internet about how to do it. I wouldn't go more than about 50-60cm high, 20-24 inches. Soil would need to be fertile. Don't over water. Or just do it the normal way and hill the soil up as they grow.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 121 - 130 of 820 comments
See comments for all plants

Mark and Kim, A word of warning on using old car tyres, while it is a great recycling idea there is a fair bit of evidence around to suggest that they leach cadmium, which you don't really want to be digesting. Also I think that cadmium can become quite concentrated in potatoes, so it's kind of a double whammy. If you are using the mounding technique with straw and compost it should be enough to make a wire mesh border to hold everything in and then you can just dismantle it and use it next year.

- Grahame

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.