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 4a regions)

  • P = Plant seed potatoes
  • Plant tuber. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 30 - 40 cm 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

13 Mar 14, NATHALIE SLUIK (Australia - arid climate)
CAN YOU BUY JERSEY BENNE POTATOS IN AUSTRALIA
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
14 Feb 14, jamie shaw (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I put a crop of potatoes on now . Mid Feb south of Perth western Aust
26 Jan 14, Siya (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can i plant potatoes in late january in pietermaritzburg
20 Jan 14, (Australia - temperate climate)
sowing time of potato in temperate zone
03 Jan 14, Lydia (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Hi Tshepiso we are here in steynsrus in freestate next to Kroonstad,we are growing potatoes,we can supply you.our numbers are 0836257047.
02 Jan 14, kagiso (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
how do i get potatoe farms to supply me in south africa and how do i grow my own and get land
31 Dec 13, jeremiah masomera (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hie. What's the general fungicide application frequency that is recommended during the course of growing potatoes. Is there a sort of timetable to be followed?
29 Dec 13, jeff (Australia - temperate climate)
how to store seed potatoes for next season
22 Dec 13, phillip barwick (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
how high do i keep mulching the potatoes with straw in a no dig potato patch to keep them coming on
Showing 551 - 560 of 833 comments

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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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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