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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30 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Try the internet for growing potatoes in NZ.
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08 Aug 18, Ross Duncan (Australia - tropical climate)
What potato varieties will grow in the tropics? I live in Cairns & want to plant potato but not sure which type will grow here.
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10 Aug 18, (Australia - tropical climate)
Google it. It all depends what kind of seed potato you can buy there. Try Bunnings or produce places.
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24 Jul 18, Lukanyo (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Is there any difference in size with seedlings during planting
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18 Jul 18, Deb Smith (USA - Zone 7b climate)
Can we grow tomatoes in early August in Zone 7 to harvest by Thanksgiving?
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30 Jun 18, Peter (Perth) (Australia - temperate climate)
Stumbled in and grew some Royal Blue in container. Tipped out this week as I want to start some Kipfler. NO SPUDS! Now realise I did 2 things wrong 1: planted in November (= lots of lovely foliage) 2: Used sprouting (table) spuds from Greengrocer. This time I'm doing it right! (I hope). Got Seed Spuds (Kipfler like) "Pink Fur Apple". Made a planting medium following research. Planting early July. Hope springs eternal!
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23 Jun 18, JAI (USA - Zone 7b climate)
Can I have a 2nd planting of seed potatoes in very late/early July in containers?
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12 Apr 18, Rachel (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
good day please could u help we have a probem with the potatoes we planted and i dont know how to solve the problem. is there someone that can contact me and give me advise
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10 Apr 18, Rita (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Hi there, I’m in Millwater new subdivisions. Just wanted to know when is the best month to plant Agria potatoes. We’re new in the country but love gardening and organic. Please help us thanks
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11 Apr 18, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
You are in Temperate NZ zone so look up Potatoes for that zone - use the Vegetables and Herbs tab
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Showing 271 - 280 of 831 comments
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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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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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