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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27 Oct 13, Elizabeth (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I stop watering them when there leaves start yellowing, once the leaves are fully "dead" harvest.
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21 Oct 13, Jan Grainger (Australia - temperate climate)
I lost a whole lot of potatoes to both slaters and slugs. I used beer traps, etc. but there were too many to contend with. Reluctantly, we had the whole property professionally sprayed and this year have none.
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12 Oct 13, Sarah (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Another first time potato grower here :) I bought some russet Burbank seed potatoes a few weeks back and was silly enough to just follow the directions on the bag label, which said nothing about letting them shoot before planting. I planted them immediately, then a week later realised the error of my ways so gently dug a few up to see what had happened. They had shoots on them about an inch long, so I replanted them, shoot side up and about 10cm of dirt on top. That was two weeks ago, but no shoots have appeared on the surface. How long should it take? I have my "succession batch" on the floor in an open box in my green house, hoping they'll sprout away soon for planting in a month or so. All advice gratefully received :)
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18 Oct 13, Sarah (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Well, a week later and two have sprouted... Two that I DIDN'T dig up to check on. It appears digging up those others, despite being as gentle as I could, wasn't a great idea :-S
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05 Oct 13, glennys (Australia - temperate climate)
Where in qld can I buy kestrel seed potatoes .On a bag of kestrel potatoes I bought from a supermarket said"Not to be used for seed potatoes. WHY ? THANKYOU.
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26 Feb 18, Ray (Australia - temperate climate)
I wondered this, and because I wasn't super happy with the answer here, or on a similar discussion on Reddit, I looked into this more. It turns out that it's to do with Western Australia quarantine rules, which explicitly states that potatoes imported from outside of WA have to be labelled
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25 Oct 13, betty (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
bet you bought them from the south Australian company who is a grower and wants a monopoly so states not for use as seed potatoes. I find they are a very good potato if left to sprout seed and are a heavy cropper.
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25 Oct 13, brian (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
the company that markets the kestrel potato bag is from south Australia and the reason for stating not for planting is to stop you growing them. I purchased the very same bag and waited until the potatoes sprouted and then planted without any problems whatsoever
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25 Sep 13, Joerg (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi Potaoeplanters! I live in North East Namibia and here the potatoe supply by the two supermarkets is very poor. Could someone maybe give me an advise where i could order which seedlings for this area? Thank you for your time and effort Cheers Joerg
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27 Jan 14, sue (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
livingseeds to buy potatoes. Find them on the internet
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Showing 561 - 570 of 820 comments
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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

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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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