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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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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14 Nov 13, Fred (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I may be wrong but I took it to mean that planting potatoes in tyres opened up vulnerability to you consuming the absorbed heavy metals which the tyres are said to leach, or release into the soil. I hope this gives help, even if only an alternative perception.
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09 Nov 13, Vicki Wildie (Australia - temperate climate)
I have harvested my Dutch Cream potatoes, I'm a first time grower and seemed to get a reasonable crop. I would like to keep some to plant next year. How do I store them until next August? The seed potatoes I used were from an organic nursery.
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I'm growing just a few purple potatoes in a cage following the instructions above. I've never grown potatoes before at all so need some help please. When they sprouted the little plants are not what I imagined. I thought it would be a tallish, narrow shoot but it is a little clump of leaves about 10 cm round (the clump, not each leaf). Do I just bury this whole thing in the next layer of mulch etc? I can't imagine how it will grow through. Perhaps I should have watched more closely and mounded up before the leaves opened, but I didn't notice until they were like this (the leaves are almost the same colour as the compost mix). So, is it OK to bury them now, or should I have done it sooner? I only planted four bits and the first two are as described but the other two are just coming up now, so not too late for those perhaps but they are all together.

- Heather

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