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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30 Apr 13, Sustainable Jill (Australia - temperate climate)
Potatoes prefer to grow when it's warm. Soil temperature should be at least 6°C. As you are in a pretty mild maritime climate that rarely gets that low you should be fine. See how you go! (Just remember to have some drainage in your bin or the potatoes will eventually rot!)
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02 May 13, Lyn (Australia - temperate climate)
Thank you Sustainable Jill, advice taken on board. I've recently learn't my lesson on drainage in pots. :-( I'm sure thats what caused the sudden death of a beautiful specimen of Acacia which was awaiting its garden bed. I'm sad and very annoyed at myself for not putting in better drainage holes! Now to find those elusive seed potatoes.....
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02 Apr 13, sharon (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted some potatoes 3 to 4 weeks ago. They have grown stems, leaves, flowers....which I just noticed have turned into little green fruit like baby Tomatoes. Is this normal, or can you advise what it is...what should I do please? with thanks.
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05 Apr 13, Ferran (Australia - arid climate)
that's some fast growing plants! After flowering they will die back, that is when you harvest. If the growth is out of proportion to your potatoes when you harvest then the soil had too much nitrogen promoting leaf growth and hindering the roots. my garden has some naturally growing potato left in the soil from last harvest spouted 4weeks ago and now flowering normally they would not be there but they were deeper than I was dinging at harvest. If you are practicing rotation cops do not!!!! plant corn or sun flowers after potatoes it stunts them. beans are good. potatoes should not be in the same place for seven years after seven years the chemicals that are put in the soil by potatoes as well as disease and pests should have gone from the soil.
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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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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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