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 South Africa - Summer rainfall regions)

  • P = Plant seed potatoes
  • Plant tuber. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 30 - 40 cm 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for South Africa | for all countries
23 Jan 18, zrk (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
can I plant Potatoes in February. My farm is in the Eastern Cape ,Qumanco. It's also a high frost area.
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28 Sep 17, violet (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
hi im in soshanguve north of pretoria,am strugling to.get tubers. can I produce my own from the potato then plant on my one hector in november?
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04 Sep 17, moses (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
where can I buy certified seed in pretoria
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03 Sep 17, Nomzamo (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
is it ok to plant potatoes before the first rains around September? and how long will it take for them to ripen?
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13 Jul 17, Mutebi Joseph (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
How can I get potato seeds in Uganda E.Africa??thanks.
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16 Jul 17, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Your question is a challenging one because of disease that are affecting potatoes in Uganda. I suggest you contact your Agriculture Department or look up 'potatoes' on the internet to find healthy seed. It may be listed as 'Certified' seed which means that it is disease free. Trust this helps.
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17 Jun 17, zamo (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
can i grow potatoes on same land that i use to grow sugercane ?
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26 May 17, Harare (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
How can I fight or chase away the moles eating potatoes underground?
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29 May 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
True moles are insect eaters. It is more likely that rats or mice are eating your potatoes. I would try laying rat and mice baits or traps and see what happens. Some of the newer vermin baits are enclosed in small sachets and you will know if they are chewed that you are getting the culprit. Make sure the baits cannot be reached by children or pets and keep laying them until there is no more chewing. All the best.
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23 Sep 17, Dale (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Poisons? In a garden? What happens when the neighborhood cats & owls eat the mice or rats?
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I forgot to mention -- and kept forgetting to post this additional part. When you are "hilling up" you are actually burying LEAVES. Leaves have specialized tissue to COLLECT LIGHT -- that is to say, they are NOT ROOTS -- so to me, burying leaves is NOT CORRECT. It may help to get the potatoes producing sooner, BUT somehow to me if a potato plant made leaves it wanted to collect light -- roots are different, they are sort of thin and round/tube like and are used to transport water and nutrients -- AGAIN: leaves are leaves and roots are roots -- and when I stop and think about it burying leaves doesn't seem right... and my gut instinct is saying that it is not correct. I have also noticed that roots are thinner, and are probably easier for the plant to make/grow -- leaves look like they take a lot of work/nutrition -- so why bury something that is specialized to be above the ground???....... again, the pros may say otherwise and have lots of data and past successes to prove their view point. I have done it both ways (not sure why I did- but I did) and really have not noticed any differences in OVERALL potato production.... so why bury the leaves and make all that extra work hilling up ??? Also, potato tubers seem to like lots of air flow... so make sure the soil is light or ir your in containers ensure lots of holes near the bottom sides to create updrafts..

- Celeste Archer

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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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