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

10 Aug 18, (Australia - tropical climate)
Google it. It all depends what kind of seed potato you can buy there. Try Bunnings or produce places.
30 Jun 18, Peter (Perth) (Australia - temperate climate)
Stumbled in and grew some Royal Blue in container. Tipped out this week as I want to start some Kipfler. NO SPUDS! Now realise I did 2 things wrong 1: planted in November (= lots of lovely foliage) 2: Used sprouting (table) spuds from Greengrocer. This time I'm doing it right! (I hope). Got Seed Spuds (Kipfler like) "Pink Fur Apple". Made a planting medium following research. Planting early July. Hope springs eternal!
10 Apr 18, Rita (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi there, I’m in Millwater new subdivisions. Just wanted to know when is the best month to plant Agria potatoes. We’re new in the country but love gardening and organic. Please help us thanks
11 Apr 18, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
You are in Temperate NZ zone so look up Potatoes for that zone - use the Vegetables and Herbs tab
05 Mar 18, Peter (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it possible to grow potatoes in a bag in autumn in Melbourne
06 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Doesn't matter much what you grow it in, as long as you look after it to suit how you are growing it. Give it a go.
08 Mar 18, (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm talking about temperate zone climate and planting this time of year
09 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
A lot of places can grow 2 crops a year. Autumn and Spring. An old saying was plant potatoes on St Patrick's Day I believe - which is 17th March I think. A commercial grower in Bundaberg plants in May. When the weather has cooled off a bit from summer, plant up - late March - May.
12 Mar 18, (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm in Melbourne temperate climate
13 Mar 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
If you look it up here on this website it say temperate plant in the spring.
Showing 141 - 150 of 561 comments

It depends -- not all potatoes are suitable for towering (layering). Additionally, I have found that the potato plant SPENDS A LOT OF ENERGY GROWING UP, UP, UP, as you cover its leaves with soil (leaves have specialized cells designed to collect light - and why you would want to cover them with soil is beyond me this is not really a good move -- leaves are not roots). My recommendation is: if you have a DEEP PLANTER bag starting at about six inches from the bottom -- in sort of a pattern that looks like the 5 on a die (dice) -- make about 3-4 inch round holes -- and make them on the sides that receive light keeping the holes about 10 inches apart (6 inches away from the bottom and 10 inches away from the top of the bag). Fill the bag with a good soil/compost/manure mix of some kind -- starting from the bottom -- when you are level with a hole, place a seed potato there, level or slight below the bottom lip of the hole, and about 3 inches from the side of the bag (so there is soil between the potato and the hole) -- continue up until the bag is full -- the top layer of potatoes can be planted as usual. Yes, the soil will come out of the holes ... not to worry -- just be sure that the soil covers the topmost holes by at least 6-8inches. That is - each potato planted in the bag should have access to a WINDOW (air and light) OR those planted on the top layer (like a usual planting) should be down about 9 inches or so. The Key to this planting is ALL potatoes need to be able to put leaves somewhere -- they will follow the air and light to find that spot -- all potatoes need water -- so you will be watering from the top of the bag only (like a potted plant) -- but you water DEEPLY, since the water needs to make it to the very bottom potato plants -- so maybe you water every 5 days or so... depends on the soil, temperature, amount of light , amount of wind/air (which whisks moisture away), Additionally, ensure there is drainage at the bottom of the bag .... maybe a two inch hole directly at ground level. It might be better to use a crate of some kind.... rather than a bag...anyhow this set up will work with any kind of potato plant without consideration as to whether or not it can handle towering. Hope this helps. Conversion of inches to cm : 1 inch = 2.5cm

- 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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