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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04 Nov 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
IT IS NOT SAFE TO EAT THEM. It is caused by the potato being exposed to the sun. In future keep the potatoes covered with soil to stop this happening.
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17 Oct 19, Alan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When do they harvest potatoes
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18 Oct 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
15-20weeks from planting. Read up on the internet. HOW TO GROW POTATOES
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12 Sep 19, Stephanie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have potatoes growing in last years patch, from some left behind and unharvested. They look healthy, will they give a reasonable crop or should I pull them and put new seed potatoes in?
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13 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Preferable to plant something different each year in the same bed. Let some grow and plant some new ones and compare what they produce. Gardening is about trying things.
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03 Sep 19, lia (Australia - temperate climate)
how much water does potatoes need every week, month or year?
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04 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A good watering 2-3 times a week. Watering would depend on climate zone - how hot or cold the weather is, a cloudy or sunny day, small or large plants. Small plants small watering more often, large plants longer watering less often. Small plants only have short root system - soil dries out. A 4m row of small plants may only require a minute or two whereas large plants may require 3-5 mins.
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23 Aug 19, John G (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I re use soil where potato crops have failed due to poor fertiliser and not using seed potatoes? Im concerned about diseases/fungus. Thanks
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26 Aug 19, (Australia - temperate climate)
If they failed then you may have disease/fungus. Have good rich soil before planting and give a good watering twice a week when they are established.
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29 Jul 19, hazel (Australia - temperate climate)
i have very strong looking potatoe plants growing in my compost. Will i have potatoes on them.they have been growing all winter.
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Showing 101 - 110 of 563 comments
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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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