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 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 May 22, Kathy Blackburn (USA - Zone 7b climate)
What sweet potato is good for zone 7b Long Island NY
18 May 22, anonymous (USA - Zone 7b climate)
Probably any.
27 Apr 22, Lynne Mortensen (Australia - temperate climate)
I have had some sprouting potatoes given to me. Can I plant them now? If not, will they keep to August?
02 May 22, (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes plant them now.
25 Apr 22, Tania Santamaria (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, can you advise on a first early potato to plant. I can only seem to find mid or late varieties when I goggle. Thanks. I am moving to NSW Bega valley area in June.
26 Apr 22, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
Your planting guide is Aug to Oct so I don't really see the point in an early variety. Planting is about soil temperature and after the likelyhood of frosts.
23 Apr 22, Dionne Dixon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have to say that potatoes also grow amazingly well with parsley. They seem to be great companions.
08 Nov 22, Peter Chapman (Australia - temperate climate)
They also taste amazing with parsley garlic and butter.
30 Mar 22, Lee Patterson (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live in Taree, Mid North Coast, NSW. I have Potato Bags ready for planting and would like to know when is the right time for me to plant. Also, when do potato seedlings go on sale. Thank you.
31 Mar 22, Gary Hall (Australia - arid climate)
Hi Lee I'm from Wauchope and the Potato season is August, September and october you can get seed potato from Bunnings in the Gardening section in Taree if not try one of the rural centre's in Taree hope this helps.
Showing 61 - 70 of 818 comments

I would like to endorse the comments above regarding the use of tyres to grow Potatoes or in fact use to grow any any food. The rubber compounds in both the carcase and tread contain significant numbers of nasties. Tyres are designed to perform at high speed under quite arduous conditions, absolutely not designed as end of life food growing receptacles! They contain many potential hazards/chemicals, far too many to fully list. I will list just a couple,so that fellow readers who do not have my background can appreciate better what they are dealing with. Firstly the reinforcing Carbon Blacks utilized in the rubber compounds, contain significant amounts of Organo-Nitrogen compounds, blacks of this type are banned for use with any "Potable Water" applications! the reason being these compounds are considered as being high risk carciogens. There are special Blacks made specifically for food contact applications, rubber reinforcing blacks are definitely not suitable. Processing aids, The rubber in the tyres must be made to be strong/resilient/heat resistant; specially designed chemical compounds are encorporated into the rubber compounds to achieve this. The chemical compounds used present problems in many directions, firstly they are not ( dont need to be) pure compounds they contain debris from the chemical synthesis processes used to make them; these same compounds also decompose both during Vulcanization and during the life of the tyre. The Organo-Chemical families many of these compounds belong to include compounds that are considered hazardous and not suitable for food contact. The possibility of side chemical reactions between both the impurities and the debris from the degradation, resulting in compounds that could present significant hazards is real. Are tyres dangerous? yes! when attached to cars driven by idiots and when used as receptacles to grow food; otherwise no!

- Geoff Brooks

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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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