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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11 Jun 12, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Kipfler potatoes are a waxy variety good for salads.
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30 May 12, simon (Australia - tropical climate)
really want to grow some potatoes other than sweet potato, yam, taro etc etc in the tropics, surly there is one type of potato that could handle the dry season up this way?? any advise is really appreciated.
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06 May 12, PAUL CLARK (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have just got 2 kgs of seed pots for the garden. i have a built up garden 9 sq mtrs with plenty of drainage and around 12-15 inches of fresh soil. I have read that i need to let my seed pots grow shoots first so have placed them in egg boxes in my garage.......i live on the sunshine coast qld....when is the best time to plant them in the soil and when will they roughly be ready? thanks for any advice! PAUL
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12 Jul 12, Mark (Australia - temperate climate)
12 July - We have had ours in the ground for about 5 weeks now so if you don't have them in yet do it this w/end. You should be able to harvest in spring before it gets too hot, but you can dig them up anytime you want... they just may be on the small side or "new" potato's, still good... the rain we are having at the present time here on the Sunshine (or Unshine) Coast is good for the crop if nothing else.
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17 Apr 12, Shangjie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Is it all right if I use shop potatoes when they are sprouting?
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08 Jul 12, Alban (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I planted shop potatoes that were sprouting and they grew very nicely. Only I planted them very late so they were small when harvesting. I think the main problem with shop potatoes is the danger of diseases, which is why experts recommend certified seed potatoes.
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13 Apr 12, ROBYN (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi We live in Ballarat and I am interested in growing no dig potatoes. I was wondering if we could use old seed bags off the farm and would we need to pierce them to increase the drainage? Also we love bbq potatoes so could you suggest suitable variety. Thanks so much Robyn
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14 Apr 12, Michael Ouellette (Australia - arid climate)
Dutch cream I find are the best potatoes to grow..
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10 Jul 12, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I VE NEVER GROWN DUTCH CREAMS HOW DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD GROW IN CONTAINERS AS I AM CONDUCTING DIFFERENT METHODS WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPUDS IN CONTAINERS BAGS DRUMS ETC
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10 Apr 12, Clive (Australia - temperate climate)
I have several boxes of small potatoes left over from a crop I grew from certified seed potatoes last summer. I would like to plant them this coming spring, (August onward) but they are already statrting to sprout. If I siply remove the sprouts now and keep them dry and in the dark, will they be suitable for planting in 12-16 weeks time? Thanks for anyones interest, Regards, Clive.
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Showing 401 - 410 of 561 comments
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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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