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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01 Mar 16, MOAGI EMMANUEL (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hello, I want to ask what kind of potato seed can grow well in Limpopo area, it is summer rainfall and sometimes temperature rises up to 30 degress
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17 Mar 16, Bee-Pie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I personally love Savannah cultivar. Mondial is also good.
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19 Feb 16, Rikie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
1)What kind of potatoes will grow best in East London, (Eastern Cape)? 2)Where can I buy these seed potatoes as hardware stores do not keep it anymore?
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12 Sep 15, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Where do I get certified seed (AA grade) for mondial potatoes
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12 Jun 15, Mvembe Tafirenyika Arthur (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Does mondial potato seed produce many flowers.I planted one hectare of the product.Its left with 3 weeks to mature but there were fewer flowers .Not all of them had flowers. Is it okay like that.
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08 Jun 15, Lucky Ramaabya (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
where can one get the seeds for potatoes more especially when in Botswana
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19 Mar 15, Emmaculate ramphela (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I have a pice of land where I want to plant the potatoes. So I don't know what to do as a first step to start this project.
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22 Jan 15, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
How can I slow down vegetative growth in mondial potato
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04 Dec 14, Reuben (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I am staying in NORTH WEST in MAHIKENG area and need to know best months to plant potatoes aswell a s the best seed suitable for our area...My other place consists of LOAM SOIL and the other is CLAY SOIL,,,I need to know which is best suited ?...Thanking you in advance...
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03 Apr 16, Accumulater (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Potatoes like loam sandy soil not clay in mpumulanga in a small town for many years there where a potato festival and the soil there is loam. By my also in mpumulanga we have turf soil similar to clay yet soil is very stiff hard like stone when it hasnt come in contact with rain and cracks up very deep below
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Showing 81 - 90 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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