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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18 Dec 13, vic (Australia - temperate climate)
when are potatoes ready to dig up
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21 Dec 13, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
There are two ways to harvest potatoes. You can get "new potatoes" which are ones you carefully dig up while the plant is still growing. And then there is the normal way, which is to wait until the plant begins to die back. I usually have one or two plants that I attack while they are still vigorous - but keep others to mature and die back without disturbance. You will always get more potatoes if you keep burying the plant in dirt and letting it grow through. It gives more stem to create lateral roots. good luck
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20 Dec 13, Timo (Australia - arid climate)
Potatoes are ready to harvest when the plant dies and the tubers at here fullest of starch and size. If you are going to store them then wait until this time. You can start harvesting any time there is any size to the tubers (size of a baby's fist) but Cook and eat them straight away. Happy gardening-Timo
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16 Dec 13, albany (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
What deseases are associated with potatoes and what are the remedies? From Swaziland highveld region.
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12 Dec 13, Nic (Australia - temperate climate)
Why do you not grow Cucumbers and Potatos in the same garden bed?
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10 Feb 14, Dean (Australia - temperate climate)
Because they compete for nutrients and water and planting this way only diminishes potential harvest.
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10 Dec 13, Elwyn (Australia - temperate climate)
Is December too late to plant potatoes I live in Sydney
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24 Nov 13, Matto (Australia - temperate climate)
Whales, I have used this info to full extent and have even been inspired to grow some potatoes of my own, they are now about 2 weeks old and growing well
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21 Nov 13, Peter Bean (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
What, Why, How are green potatoes poisonous? If the plants have died off and the potaoes are not harvested. What will happen to the tubers
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23 Jan 14, Kit (USA - Zone 4a climate)
Green ends are not good and shouldn't be eaten. It means the potato has been exposed to the sun and light too much. It can be cut off though,
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I live in Zone 7b in Arkansas. It's been an unusually cool and wet spring / summer. I planted four varieties in a prepared bed. (composted manure was tilled in.) The varieties were Pontiac red, Kenebek, Russet and Yukon Gold in roughly equal amounts, purchased prepackaged at a farm store. The seed potatoes were sown in rows 12 -18 inch spacing on Feb 28 by burying shallow, then covering with several inches of composted manure followed by several inches of straw, two bales on roughly 120 sq feet. I did not document when they sprouted but it seemed weak initially but success rate of sprouts was eventually good. The composted manure is weedy and so was the straw, eventually weed pressure was high so I covered with another layer of composted manure. ( I don't remember the date and the plants were 20 inches or so tall, some in blossom. ) Although at the time of harvest the bed was heavy with weeds again that worked long enough to bring in a harvest on June 4th. While harvesting the soil was still quite moist, only two or three potatoes had rotted and the yield was about 2 to 3 nice sized potatoes per plant with up to three small potatoes per plant too. I followed the harvest with a sweet corn. I contemplated a second potato planting but i think it will be too hot. I'm going to make a deep raised bed from pallets manure and straw out in a shady part of my homestead and try a few to see what happens. Hopefully that helps.

- Ross

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