Growing Potato

Solanum tuberosum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
P                 P P  

(Best months for growing Potato in USA - Zone 9a 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 Sep 14, Jean Bittkau (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
You can cut off a piece of potato with 2 eyes . Let the cut dry out for a day or two. This helps seal in moisture and prevents rot setting in.
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05 Aug 14, MBUSO (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi can you please assist i have 1.5 hectors which i want to plant potatoes in the rural areas of White River Mpumalanga. i want to know is it a good place for potatoes or not? Water is also not enough in the place. Where can i buy seed that will adapt to my place conditions.
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04 Aug 14, (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
what is the best way to control potato disease,weeds etc?
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26 Jul 14, Victor (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I have been growing my own potatoes,for house use,successfully for a couple of years.Never realy got nice big tubers but they where eatable.
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19 Jul 14, Vincent (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I have never planted potatoes before. do you have any places for workshops in Gauteng?
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01 Jul 14, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Is it possible to grow potatoes relying on rainfall
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19 May 14, leseli (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Dear Sir/Madam I'm leseli like to plant potatoes in August 2014 im in Matatiele Next to Kokstard in Estern Cape What i really need on is all the tips that u can give me is my first time to plant potatoes and im willing to make it. where to get the right seed my ph on the siol must be.
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11 May 14, mapula (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
hi lydia I am Mapula in limpopo want to plant potatoes.Were can i buy potato seedsin limpopo or gauteng. thanks
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04 Mar 14, kenneth Ntshingila (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
have 3hactors land,good deep soil available for potatoe planting.can get 3000 litre of water per hour is the water enough .What is the best seed to plant in Randfontein area
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26 Jan 14, Siya (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can i plant potatoes in late january in pietermaritzburg
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Showing 91 - 100 of 114 comments
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Sweet potato farmers here grow sprouts by “bedding” seed potatoes in March. This is done by placing the whole potato in the ground, covering them with a thin layer of soil and plastic. Sprouts will be cut and transplanted from the greenhouse or bedding field to a different field in May or June. It takes approximately 90-120 days without frost to grow a sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are ready to dig 90-120 days after sprouts are transplanted. Around here in August the rows are plowed and sweet potatoes are flipped on top of the ground. Most sweet potatoes are cured. Curing changes starches in the sweet potatoes into sugar, making it sweeter and the skin tougher. It takes 4-7 days of 80-85̊ temperature and 80-90% relative humidity to cure sweet potatoes. After being cured, sweet potatoes are stored at temperatures between 55-60º F and 85% relative humidity. This special storage process is why sweet potatoes are available 365 days a year here in USA. Here in North Carolina, USA sweet potatoes are shipped all over the world. It is one of our largest farmed food crops. I hope this helps... ~Melinda

- Melinda Schwab

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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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