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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28 May 13, Ray (Australia - temperate climate)
I have read in gardening books that tyres can be used 4 spuds ? but you say NO can you please exsplane . (Some reasons are well set out here http://www.brightonpermaculture.org.uk/news/11-news/363-growing-food-in-tyres.html Liz)
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03 May 13, stan bevan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
this is May 2013 is it too late to plant seeds of marigolds into a plot freshly prepared with morning sun
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03 May 13, Tessa (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
In SA it is quite common for people to grow vegetables in old tyres. This would also work really well with potatoes because you can just tip them over and harvest the potatoes very easily. I know this article say you shouldn't, but has anyone tried?
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26 Apr 13, Ray (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi i have seed potatoes from last year that have started to sprout. As its to early to plant can I rub them off and plant latter thanks ray.
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30 Apr 13, Sustainable Jill (Australia - temperate climate)
I'd just pop them in now. They are telling you they're ready to grow, and the moon is waning so it's a good time to plant rooting crops. If it's too cold, they will just sit in the ground until things are ready for them to grow. If you leave them out, they will gradually lose moisture, become soft and shrivel...not ideal for growing later in the year.
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22 Apr 13, BARRY (Australia - temperate climate)
I have just harvested potatoe crop which appear to have a disease? A dark grey core with a rusty brown surround. Appears to be the start of rot? Can you help me?
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16 Apr 13, Lyn (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I love your site its so informative! I'm new to vegie gardening and keen to get a potato crop going ASAP but have seen the recommended planting time for me is August. Does this apply if I'm planning on using a container? e.g. a large plastic rubbish bin. I live in a suburb of Wollongong NSW. I'm about 10 min from the coast so no frosts etc. My back yard has a concreted area that gets about 5-6hrs of sun in winter. Thank you :-)
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30 Apr 13, Sustainable Jill (Australia - temperate climate)
Potatoes prefer to grow when it's warm. Soil temperature should be at least 6°C. As you are in a pretty mild maritime climate that rarely gets that low you should be fine. See how you go! (Just remember to have some drainage in your bin or the potatoes will eventually rot!)
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02 May 13, Lyn (Australia - temperate climate)
Thank you Sustainable Jill, advice taken on board. I've recently learn't my lesson on drainage in pots. :-( I'm sure thats what caused the sudden death of a beautiful specimen of Acacia which was awaiting its garden bed. I'm sad and very annoyed at myself for not putting in better drainage holes! Now to find those elusive seed potatoes.....
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02 Apr 13, sharon (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted some potatoes 3 to 4 weeks ago. They have grown stems, leaves, flowers....which I just noticed have turned into little green fruit like baby Tomatoes. Is this normal, or can you advise what it is...what should I do please? with thanks.
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I would like to endorse the comments above regarding the use of tyres to grow Potatoes or in fact use to grow any any food. The rubber compounds in both the carcase and tread contain significant numbers of nasties. Tyres are designed to perform at high speed under quite arduous conditions, absolutely not designed as end of life food growing receptacles! They contain many potential hazards/chemicals, far too many to fully list. I will list just a couple,so that fellow readers who do not have my background can appreciate better what they are dealing with. Firstly the reinforcing Carbon Blacks utilized in the rubber compounds, contain significant amounts of Organo-Nitrogen compounds, blacks of this type are banned for use with any "Potable Water" applications! the reason being these compounds are considered as being high risk carciogens. There are special Blacks made specifically for food contact applications, rubber reinforcing blacks are definitely not suitable. Processing aids, The rubber in the tyres must be made to be strong/resilient/heat resistant; specially designed chemical compounds are encorporated into the rubber compounds to achieve this. The chemical compounds used present problems in many directions, firstly they are not ( dont need to be) pure compounds they contain debris from the chemical synthesis processes used to make them; these same compounds also decompose both during Vulcanization and during the life of the tyre. The Organo-Chemical families many of these compounds belong to include compounds that are considered hazardous and not suitable for food contact. The possibility of side chemical reactions between both the impurities and the debris from the degradation, resulting in compounds that could present significant hazards is real. Are tyres dangerous? yes! when attached to cars driven by idiots and when used as receptacles to grow food; otherwise no!

- Geoff Brooks

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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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