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

20 Aug 16, thulani s Nene (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I'm at Hlabisa KZN South Africa i need to know in which month can i grow potatoes
20 Aug 16, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Yes it encourages the plant to channel its energy on growing the tubers instead of the flower . Regards
19 Aug 16, moira (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Where can I find. Potato tubers or seedlings in the western cape please.
16 Aug 16, Phillip (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
best way of growing potatoes in region and what cultivar to use - Mpumalanga lowveld area
14 Aug 16, ricky (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi Were can I get seed potatoes in Gauteng
30 Aug 16, Avril (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I got mine from Livingseeds online store
10 Aug 16, Charlien (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi there,I have heard that one needs to pinch off the flowers in order for it too grow... How big does the shoot need to be before adding more sole and mush to the potatoes..... Kind Regards Charlien
28 Jul 16, graham paul (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What is the PH required for potatoes? Thanking you, Graham
24 Jul 16, Anthony Scanlon (Australia - temperate climate)
I.planted my seed potatoes in large tubs late May I have kept topping them up they have reached the top of tubs large folage very healthy what to do next. Regards Anthony
03 Oct 16, Lachlan (Australia - temperate climate)
Wait till foliage dies then harvest.
Showing 441 - 450 of 831 comments

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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