Potatoes (Maincrop) Growing Guide

Solanum tuberosum

Crop Rotation Group

Solanaceae (Potato and tomato family) ●

Soil

Rich, deep soil enriched with plenty of compost is best, but will grow in most positions.

Position

Full sun.

Frost tolerant

No.

Feeding

Not usually required if plants are deeply mulched with straw, grass clippings, rotted leaves, or another organic mulch.

Spacing

Single Plants: 1' 5" (45cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 1' 1" (35cm) with 2' 5" (75cm) row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Grow from sprouting potatoes or seed potatoes, cut into chunks so that each piece has 2 growing "eyes," or sprouts. Let the cut pieces dry for a day before planting 3 inches deep.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

As shoots appear, draw soil over them if there is still a possibility of frost. Once the shoots are hand height, earth them up by drawing more soil around them or by applying a surface mulch of compost, leaving the top of the shoots still showing to keep the actual potatoes covered. If any potatoes get exposed to light and turn green they should not be eaten. Make sure potatoes are kept watered in dry weather.

Harvesting

When the plants begin to bloom, feel under the mulch for little new potatoes. Harvest often as the plants begin to die back. Gather potatoes on a cloudy day, and cover them to protect them from exposure to light.

Troubleshooting

Yellow-and-black Colorado potato beetles lay eggs on leaf undersides, which hatch into fat red leaf- and flower-eating larvae. Use row covers to exclude them or hand pick off.