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
17 Nov 15, Trevor Burford (Australia - temperate climate)
I have some self seeded potatoes growing amongst my tomatoes and pumpkins. Why is this not advised?
Reply or Post a new comment
18 Nov 15, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Tomatoes and potatoes are both in the 'nightshade' family and share many of the same diseases and pests. Something that attacks one (particularly fungii) will probably move on to attack the other.
Reply or Post a new comment
15 Nov 15, Alexis (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm in brisbane and I'm wanting to try my hand at potatoes in a barrel. is November too late to plant them or am I best waiting till next season?
Reply or Post a new comment
14 Nov 15, Dave (Australia - temperate climate)
I am trying to grow spuds the same way Pete Cundall did on Patch from Scratch. I put them on newspaper, cow manure, blood and bone and covered with about 18" of sugar cane mulch and watered in. All I have done since is mound leaves.
Reply or Post a new comment
27 Jun 16, MEL (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Did this work? Sounds great!
Reply or Post a new comment
31 Oct 15, michelle (Australia - temperate climate)
I am moving to tara Queensland and was wanting to grow potatoes could you please tell me what is the best thing to grow there.
Reply or Post a new comment
29 Oct 15, alan jones (Australia - temperate climate)
I tried growing potatoes from tubers from Bunnings.I grew them in a wall compound 250mm high, as they grew I back filled and put another course of bricks on top giving me 500mm in height. They grew well but later did not come to flower??. In time the plants slowly died off and once dead I set about getting the spuds out. I was dissappointed as there was a little crop and most were the size of a large grape, and only 4 were useable. It looked like they could have spent another month or so to grow bigger, but plant was dead and shrivelled up?? Can anyone give advice what I have done wrong and what to do next season thanks Alan
Reply or Post a new comment
07 Jan 16, Susan (Australia - temperate climate)
I also am having similar problems , only difference is I used organic seed, but very disappointed with results. Does any one have suggestions cheers
Reply or Post a new comment
26 Oct 15, Cassie (Australia - temperate climate)
Regarding the potatoes spoiling or dying... They store very well in the ground. The ones that you don't harvest will happily stay there until the following season. When the weather is right they will send out shoots. We planted potatoes in our garden several years ago, and now they grow like a welcome weed... We are always finding them in unusual places. I have one patch of garden that seems to always have potatoes buried for whenever I need them. So you needn't fear missing the harvest window... they will last a long time in the ground.
Reply or Post a new comment
09 Oct 15, graham paul (Australia - temperate climate)
I have grown potatoes in the past and had good results this time they grew to about 30cm and 1 wilted and died the rest grew to about 40cm which to me seems a bit higher than usual and gradually others are wilting also well before flowering, Can someone help me with problem. Regards Graham
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 461 - 470 of 820 comments
See comments for all plants

sammy when your potatoes have reached a few inches high get a garden how and pull the soil up either of the plants sides that will give the plant the soil to grow in.I would have worked horse or cow manure into the soil before planting the normal guide to plant potatoes is the first week of Aug' that will give you spuds just before Xmas and plant again 1st week of march.It's best not to plant 2 crops in the same soil

- Dallas

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.