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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08 Apr 13, Sharon (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks for that advice....But what about my question re "They have grown stems, leaves, flowers....which I just noticed have turned into little green fruit-like baby Tomatoes ON THE STEMS. Is this normal"? - Sharon, Sydney
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10 Apr 13, Alice (Australia - temperate climate)
They are the potato "fruit" (potatoes are the tuber bits under the ground). DO NOT EAT THEM!! They're highly toxic. Chop them up, wash the seeds and plant them, and you'll get more potato plants!
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25 Mar 13, al (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Albury NSW when is the best time to plant spuds
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25 Mar 13, Steve H (Australia - temperate climate)
I'd never grow spuds in the ground. It's too hard to dig them up without damaging them. Instead why don't you try this. Grab a plastic rubbish bin and put some holes in the bottom for drainage Put 3 inches of straw in the bottom covered by a bit of mushroom compost or soil for a bed. Add your seed potatoes or eyes and cover with 3 inches of straw and 2 inches of soil. Liberally sprinkle with a good quality fetiliser. Keep this blend damp. When the potato plants show through, cover again with the same mix of straw, fertiliser and soil. Repeat until the bin is full and then allow the plants to mature as they grow out the top. When ready for harvest simply tip out your lovely clean spuds
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25 Mar 13, Gary (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Peter,,just a note from comments above, it is not advised to grow potatoes in tyres because of heavy metal leaching.
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02 Mar 13, Rachel (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi. I live in Sydney in a frost free area. Can I plant potatoes now and, if so, what would be good varieties? Thanks :-)
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04 Mar 13, Kevin (Australia - temperate climate)
Rachael , Have you checked that you can get your seed potato's ,because they are not available where I am in Qld!!
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19 Mar 13, Kevin (Australia - temperate climate)
Rachel, seed potatoes are now available from Green Harvest Maleny web site order online.
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12 Feb 13, SarahH (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Keen to buy Russett Burbank potato seeds in Canberra area or online but can't find anyone who can ship before June?! Any ideas for good online suppliers? Really need to plant asap. Any ideas greatly appreciated :)
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03 Feb 13, Derek Cooper (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
I would be grateful if anyone could advise me as to a late planting variety of potatoe available in S.A. It appears that the variety favoured in the USA is Butte. Any advice would be most welcome
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Showing 611 - 620 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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