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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26 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Only you can decide that. Potatoes grow then the plant dies - why don't you dig the potatoes up then - that is the normal practice..
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21 Jan 18, Lorna Findlay (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I would like to grow potatoes in bags and i dont know if its too late in Bombala nsw? Its late january
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22 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
By this website you are a little late. Give it a go and see what happens.
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11 Jan 18, Kaye (Australia - tropical climate)
We live in Townsville and are wondering if we can grow potatoes here and if so when is the best time to plant them and also are they best grown in the ground or pots??
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17 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
It suggests planting April/May here. I would suggest after the chance of cyclones - heavy rain. Plant in a raised ground so that the soil drains freely. You want the soil to be wettish but not water logged. Easier to care for when in the soil. In a pot you would have to be on the ball with the watering.
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09 Jan 18, Michelle Whyte (Australia - temperate climate)
Going to plant potatoes in the pig paddock ( when the pigs have gone ) will their manure be too strong and can we put in old dried animal manure with them. We are down near the sea in the lower south east of SA. We have a red/black loam soil. When should we start planting?? Thank you
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10 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It would depend on how freshish the manure is in the soil after you take the pig/s out. Fresh manure has nitrogen - old dried out manure has very little. Old manure is more a soil conditioner. If you had looked at the guide here for growing potatoes - temperate climate - Plant Aug to Oct. You may be able to grow a crop from April/May. Read up about growing them.
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17 Dec 17, Kym (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in a very cool part of the Barossa Valley where the growing cycle is out by 4 weeks so what would be the best time for me to grow tatties?
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19 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It says Sept to Dec for cool climate. So probably Oct to Jan. If you look up your veg and put in the climate zone it tells you - then adjust it to your conditions.
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06 Nov 17, stephen lavell (Australia - temperate climate)
all my potatoes are growing in the same soil mix sandy loam ,mushroom compost general mulch etc and ive followed your planting tips . Some are doing really well and some are stunted and look a bit sad. The best ones are producing some potatoes but im worried that the others are not going to be much good. Any ideas.?
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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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