Growing Potato

Solanum tuberosum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
P                 P P P

(Best months for growing Potato in New Zealand - cool/mountain 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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05 Feb 20, Lee Godfrey (USA - Zone 7a climate)
How much sun do potatoes need.. Can they be planted in the morning shade and evening sun
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06 Feb 20, Anon (Australia - arid climate)
Most plants need about 5 + hrs. Look it up on the internet, google it.
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03 Feb 20, tristan kawau (Australia - temperate climate)
this so helpful
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05 Jan 20, Sarah-Jane Wicks (Australia - temperate climate)
We used seed potatoes to grow Kilgore in our school garden. As the tops have now died off we harvested them today, only to yield Ferny tiny potatoes. Less than 300g from a whole 3.6m x 1.2m garden bed. The potatoes were watered a minimum of 4-5days per week, were regularly fertilised and grown beside sweetcorn. How did this go so wrong. We yielded less than the bag of seed potatoes that we planted. The soil was beautiful and rich. We mounded around the growth for the first 6weeks. So disappointing. Any help greatly appreciated.
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06 Jan 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
I would say you over fertilised them way too much, and probably too much water. That would produce a lot of leaves and little potatoes. In future prepare the ground adding manures compost etc., don't over do it though. They WILL NOT require any more fertilising. When young a lightish watering each day or two. When bigger a good watering 2-3 times a week, depending on temperatures. Put your figer in the soil to see if wet or dry and water accordingly.
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05 Jan 20, Veronica (USA - Zone 7a climate)
I'm not quite sure of my zone. I live in Charlotte, NC 28208. Can you please tell me? Check here www.gardenate.com/zones/#zone-US (Editor)
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03 Nov 19, Woza (Australia - temperate climate)
Are the green potatoes safe to eat? I always get a few in my crop
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04 Nov 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
IT IS NOT SAFE TO EAT THEM. It is caused by the potato being exposed to the sun. In future keep the potatoes covered with soil to stop this happening.
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31 Oct 19, Chris grey (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can I plant seeded potatoes the week after Christmas for a winter crop? And also if yes what seed potato would be the best? We live in north Canterbury
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01 Nov 19, anon (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
First decide whether you are temperate or cool/mountain - look in the climate zone section. Then read up about the planting times. Then you decide what potatoes you are going to plant. That will depend on what is available in your area.
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Showing 211 - 220 of 831 comments
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Sorry for the late post -- I think I have the information you are looking for. First NOT ALL potatoes are suited for "tower" growth. So the first question would be how deep are your bags; if the bags are deep enough to be considered a tower, then you need to cross check this with the variety of potato you are growing. Second: when you plant a piece of potato (seed potato) this is your LOWEST POINT. Generally, a potato plant will not produce/store and tubers (potatoes) BELOW the level of the seed potato. This is why people plant the seed potatoes, wait for the green leaves to come up, and mound soil, always leaving enough leaves sticking out to collect light. You'll also note at harvest, that the lowest potato seems to have rotted; this was your seed potato that grew the plant. We plant the seed potato shallow, so the leaves get to the sun sooner/easier and start collecting light; then we mound the soil so there is room for the potato plant to set its tubers (potatoes) -- this means, that you plant you seed potatoes at the bottom of the sack, covering them with several inches of soil, and as the potato plant grows, you add soil.... always try to leave plenty of leaves sticking out of the soil so the plant can collect sun. Hope this help. From the Eagle Creek site (about their tower potato mix): Not all types of potatoes are suited for container growing, typically fingerling and late season varieties yield best. Bellanita, Bintje, Amarosa & German Butterball are the 4 varieties in this package.

- 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. GardenGrow 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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