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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15 Mar 09, JonoB (Australia - temperate climate)
Katie, RE: potatoes in cage tower - same thing happened to me, potatoes only grew at the bottom where there was potting mix and not in the hay above. I think the cages were too exposed and hence the hay dried out quite quickly. A couple of things I might try next time is to line the wire mesh cage with some plastic, to keep the moisture in, and also to use a mix of hay and soil so it is a bit more dense.
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12 Feb 09, jimbob (Australia - temperate climate)
re late potato plantings, I planted 3 batches, the 1st in mid nov, the 2nd in early dec and the last in mid dec. I am harvesting the 1st batch now - very productive. The 2nd lot have probably only grown to 3/4 size and the last lot have only grown to barely 1/2 size. I expect they'll produce something but maybe not enough to make it worthwhile. Mid-late november will be as late as I'll plant in future. I'm east of melbourne.
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03 Feb 09, Katie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi there. I did exactly that - cage tower - cool climate, planted around sep/oct. I followed a LOT of instructions of using just hay to build up - and about 3 months into (they grew like mad!) they all just died. We don't know what happened - but someone has said that hay doesnt work. Eventually we decided to pull it apart to find there were NO potatoes at all - except at the very bottom where there had been soil etc. This forum doesnt like links - but if you go to my blog catchthatmountainview dot com and click on the label vege patch you will see our results. We have started again - not sure if it's too late. We'll see :)
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23 Jan 09, Tobie-Jane (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi...I planted a potato in a huge black tub and it grew really well, had a huge, healthy plant in mid-December. Unfortunately we went away for 4 weeks and when we got back the plant has died completely. There are a heap of potatoes in the pot though, all still firm, look fine (a little small), and none are green. Would it still be okay to harvest and eat them, or is there a time limit after the plant dies off (I'm not sure when that happened)? Finally, do I need to do anything between harvesting and cooking, like letting them dry? Thank heaps!
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20 Jan 09, Ann (Australia - temperate climate)
I live near Bendigo in Victoria, it is hot and dry in summer. Am creating some new raised vegie gardens and wonder if it is too late to grow potatoes. I already have a good crop coming on planted in October in some sunny garden beds, but have just been given a lovely big bag of sprouting tubers (forgotten in the back of a friend's cupboard.
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18 Jan 09, Rene (Australia - temperate climate)
is it possible to plant a second crop of potatoes in Sydney in new year? My first crop, planted in late July, was very successful and I'd like to plant more.
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04 Jan 09, wayne (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have a back triangle yard where my new veggie garden is. most of it has full sun all day. Have behind the bungaloo It starts seeing shade after 3pm. This is my first ever veggie garden (just finished my first vegie bed of 10 sq/mtrs. And plans for another 20 sq/mtrs. Would like to know what I can plant now and where in the garden to plant it. I also have a constant supply of 550mm sq gal box's by 900mm high I would like to use. In the full sun spot i would also like to know when I can grow spuds there so I can plan my compost there for future spud crops. I love potatoes like every body else. Want to grow all year round if possible. I live in melbourne northern suburbs
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29 Dec 08, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I wish to grow potatoes in a caged tower now, that is in late December. I live in the southern part of Victoria on the coast. Can someone please tell me if this is possible and any useful hints please.
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26 Dec 08, johnny Mornington penninsular vic. (Australia - temperate climate)
Help! I have about 16sqm of potato plants, all flowering like mad,but I have failed to cover them since they were 12 inches high.The tallest ones are now 1.5 metres high,can someone tell me if I can still cover them and what with?
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10 Dec 11, marie williams (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, just read your post, I have seen this before and what they did was to carefully lay the plant over on its side and start building up the earth over it. support it with some earth underneath whilst doing it, leaving the end out to continue to grow. As the plant settles and continues to grow continue mounding up the earth in the usual manner. You might get some more sprouts along the length of the growth your bury. Good luck.
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Showing 511 - 520 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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