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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07 Jan 14, penelope (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
you can get seed potatoes by mail from www.livingseeds.co.za , hope this helps!
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22 Sep 13, sarah (Australia - temperate climate)
Im a little late planting my spuds and im a first time grower. Im just wondering if I should water once they are in the ground or wait. Also how much water? Im really confused on this one. Thanks.
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20 Sep 13, Bill (Australia - temperate climate)
I have tried to grow potatoes several times, not very successfully, my leaves grow up to almost a meter in height, but there are very few tubers underneath. Also my potatoes do not seem to flower, and the leaves get attacked by some insects or bugs. I used a very rich soil and mulch; is there too much nitrogen?
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14 Sep 13, Dennis (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, the potatoes were planted around three weeks ago, but have noted that they have been attacked by ??? which has eating the young leaves, there are also holes now in the bigger leaves. Any suggestions, also they have left holes in the broccoli leaves. Regards Dennis Western Aussie
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19 Oct 13, Jan (Australia - temperate climate)
I lost all my potatoes to slaters last year. They decimated the leaves. I think they must have been attracted to the mulch I used but decided that the green tops were much more flavoursome. We have heard that they have become a problem in WA. We are in the south west.
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17 Sep 13, Catherine (Australia - temperate climate)
It might be the 28spotted ladybeetle. They love anything in the Solinaceae family - potatoes, tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant. I get alot of them in summer, and I just pick em off and squash them. I don't know what their predator is, but if you encourage alot of other insects to your garden they might balance themselves out. Check on the undersides of leaves too for little yellow and black larvae and squish them too.
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02 Oct 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
You shouldn't squash the 28spotted ladybeetle as they are not the victims as they eat the other insects and not the leaves. They are not a "pest" but a helper.
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27 Feb 14, Colleen (Australia - temperate climate)
The 28 spotted Ladybird bug is the culprit for the lava that feeds on the potato leaves. Squash them as soon as you see them on the leaf and check for the greyish fluffy lava to squash too as they will eat the whole top of the potato greenery if left unchecked.
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06 Sep 13, sally (Australia - temperate climate)
I have potatos that i missed digging up last year. They have now sprouted in the bed. Can i dig up now and move to a new bed for this year ?
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08 Sep 13, Keith (Australia - temperate climate)
Potatoes do not transfer well leave them until finished
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Showing 571 - 580 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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