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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14 Jul 16, Selma (USA - Zone 10b climate)
Is it to late In the season to start potatoes in zone 10b?
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14 Jul 16, Ian (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi we live in Vanuatu south pacific and I was hoping to grow some spuds , we grow kumala here but some white potatoes would be a nice addition. Any thoughts Thanks Ian
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26 Jul 16, Trish (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Ian, I'm no expert, but I think that your climate is too tropical for potatoes. I've tried in the past in Brisbane & Gold Coast in the winter, but they quickly rot. I think sweet potatoes are the way to go.
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12 Jul 16, Harry (Australia - temperate climate)
I am trying some spouted spuds, planting now July in Sydney.
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23 May 16, I live in cape town where would I get seeded potatos (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi I live in cape town I want to grow potatos indoors as its almost winter can I and how to maintain and keep it growing?thanks
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15 May 16, masasa Binns (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
where do I get potato seedlings in free state rsa am in Lesotho
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14 May 16, AGOES SOEDJARWO (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
When the best month to grow potatoes in Katoomba Blue Mountains? Thank you Regards AWS
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01 May 16, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Is there anything one can LINE a tyre with so that the metals cannot be leached from them?
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12 May 16, janine (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Ive used Tyres and you don't need to line them and we and the potatoes are very safe to eat my grandfather has been using tyres for ever and they don't leach any metals>
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27 Mar 16, Julia (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Can I get Dutch cream potatoes in NZ? I want to plant them.
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Showing 451 - 460 of 831 comments
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This is my second year at growing potatoes near Kalgoorlie. Although it gets hot quickly as long as you keep the water up to them they seem to thrive. All I added last year was some blood and bone and a bit of hay for mounding them up. I've got heavy red loam ground here and the first year I grew enormous potatoes but many were derformed from the rocks in the ground. This year I decided to build a raised bed and use a mix of the red loam, potting compost and hay. I didnt plant till late September because of late frosts but already plants are really high and flowering. Unfortunately I didnt keep up with mounding them up as quickly as I should have and maybe they will not produce as many spuds because of this. I have read that you have to keep mounding them so that only one inch of stem is out of the ground. If the main stem becomes too long and exposed to the sun it no longer grows side shoots and spuds - is this true?

- Jan

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