Eating Garden

How to Grow Potatoes

Solanum tuberosum

A cool-season vegetable grown from small seed potatoes or pieces, with the harvest forming out of sight under loose soil.

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At a glance

  • Difficulty

    Takes some care

    3 of 5 · More shovels, more care

  • Sunlight

    Full sun

    6 to 10 hours a day

  • Water

    Average thirst

  • First harvest

    90 to 120 days

    from sowing

  • Plant spacing

    8 to 12 in apart

More about this plant

Start with certified seed potatoes, keep the developing tubers covered and water evenly while they form. You can dig small new potatoes after flowering or wait for the tops to die back for a storage crop.

  • Grows for one season.
  • Can grow in raised beds, the open ground.
  • A good one to grow together with children.

Make it your plan

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What are you starting with?
Where will it grow?

Your plan, starting Nov 10, 2026

Estimated harvest: Feb 8, 2027 – Mar 10, 2027. Add your location to compare this date with local planting windows. Your chosen date stays the same.

Add your location to compare this date with local planting windows. Your chosen date stays the same.

Estimated first harvest

Feb 8, 2027 – Mar 10, 2027

Counted from sowing. Variety, plant age, weather, and care can change this estimate.

New potatoes are ready after the plants flower. Storage potatoes are ready after the tops die back and the skins no longer rub off easily with a thumb.

Cool spring weather and moderate summer temperatures. Hot soil slows tuber growth, while hard freezes damage the plants.

First, gather a few things

  • Seed potatoes
  • A growing spot with 8 to 12 in between plants
  • A prepared garden bed
  • A watering can or hose

Get ready

Do these before you put the plant or seeds in place.

  1. Start here

    1. Buy certified seed potatoes

    Choose firm, disease-free seed potatoes. Grocery-store potatoes may carry disease or be treated to prevent sprouting.

Start or plant it

Follow the steps for the way you chose to start.

  1. 1. Plant in warming soil

    Set whole small potatoes or cut pieces 3 to 5 inches deep, with the cut side down and at least one good eye on each piece.

  2. 2. Leave room for each plant

    Space pieces 8 to 12 inches apart and keep 24 to 36 inches between rows.

Water

Check the soil first. Heat, rain, and pots can change how often this plant needs water.

  1. 1. Check before you water

    Push a finger about 1 inch into the soil. Water when it feels dry there.

  2. 2. Water the roots

    Water slowly at the base until the soil feels moist a few inches down. For a pot, water until a little runs out of the drainage holes.

    Give about an inch of water a week when rain is lacking. Soak deeply once or twice rather than sprinkling the leaves each day.

Need help judging moisture? Read how to check the soil and water the roots.

If the plant looks unhappy

  • Too dry

    Tuber growth slows and potatoes may become knobby, hollow or misshapen.

    If the soil is dry, water deeply and check it again tomorrow.

  • Too wet

    Tubers crack or rot and leaf diseases spread more easily.

    If the soil is wet, wait before watering again and check that excess water can drain away.

While it grows

Check on your plant and do these jobs as they come up.

  1. 1. Hill soil around the stems

    When stems reach about a foot tall, mound soil around them. Repeat as needed so developing potatoes never see sunlight.

Looking after it

  • FeedingAn occasional feed helpsFollow a soil test. If more feeding is needed, add it as the plants begin active growth rather than late in the season.
  • MulchAfter hilling, a thick layer of clean straw helps keep the soil cool and evenly moist.

Pick and store it

Use the plant's signs of readiness, then harvest gently.

  1. 1. Check if it is ready

    New potatoes are ready after the plants flower. Storage potatoes are ready after the tops die back and the skins no longer rub off easily with a thumb.

  2. 2. Pick it

    Dig on a dry day with a garden fork, starting away from the plant so you do not spear the tubers. Use cut or bruised potatoes first.

  3. 3. Keep it fresh

    Leave unwashed storage potatoes in a dark, airy place until their skins are firm, then keep them in a cool, dark, ventilated box or bag. Do not store green or damaged potatoes.

    Typical keeping time: 180 to 240 days.

More picking tips

  1. 1. Choose your harvest

    Dig a few tender new potatoes after flowering, or wait until the tops die back for potatoes that store longer.

  2. 2. Let storage skins toughen

    Leave mature tubers in the ground for about two weeks after the tops die back, then dig in dry soil.

Common problems

  • Aphids

    Common, worth watching for

    Look for: Clusters on the tips and under leaves, sticky leaves, and ants running up the stems.

    What to do: Knock them off with a jet of water, or rub them off by hand. Insecticidal soap for a heavy attack.

    Check curled or sticky leaves and use a correct diagnosis before treating.

    How to prevent it next time

    Prevention: Do not overfeed with nitrogen, which makes the soft growth they love. Leave a few flowers nearby for ladybirds.

  • Early blight

    Common, worth watching for

    Look for: Brown spots with rings inside them, like a target, on the lower leaves first.

    What to do: Take off the affected leaves as soon as you see them and keep the plant fed and watered.

    Brown leaf spots can spread upward and reduce the plant's ability to feed its tubers.

    How to prevent it next time

    Prevention: Mulch so rain cannot splash soil onto the leaves. Do not grow tomatoes in the same spot two years running.

Common mistakes

  • Planting grocery-store potatoes

    They may carry disease or have been treated to stop sprouting. Use certified seed potatoes.

  • Letting tubers see sunlight

    Uncovered potatoes turn green. Keep hilling soil around the stems as the plants grow.

  • Swinging between dry and soaked soil

    Uneven water can cause cracks, hollow centers and misshapen potatoes.

  • Digging storage potatoes too soon

    Wait for the tops to die back, then give the skins about two more weeks to toughen.

Companion plants for potatoes

Some of this is measured in trials and some is long-standing garden practice. Each note below says which it is.

Keep apart

Extension programs advise keeping these apart:

  • TomatoPotatoes and tomatoes both get late blight, so extension advice is not to plant them close together.Recommended by extension programs
  • Black walnut treePotatoes are sensitive to juglone from black walnut roots, so keep potato beds out of walnut root zones.Recommended by extension programs
How to choose companion plants

Questions about potatoes

Tap a question to see the answer.

Will potatoes grow where I live?

Cool spring weather and moderate summer temperatures. Hot soil slows tuber growth, while hard freezes damage the plants.

  • LightFull sunAbout 6 to 10 hours of direct sun a day.
  • ShadeNeeds full light
  • SeasonA cool season cropUsually grown in spring.
  • FrostSurvives a light frost
  • HeatStruggles in heat

What soil is best for potatoes?

  • Soil pH6.0 to 6.5A cheap test kit from a garden centre will tell you yours.
  • Soil it likesSandy, Loam
  • DrainageWants well drained ground
  • RichnessAverage ground is fine

Add finished compost or other organic matter to help the soil stay loose, hold steady moisture and drain well.

Use a soil test before adding fertilizer. Wet, heavy ground raises the risk of rot and misshapen tubers.

Before changing your soil, learn how to test soil acidity and understand the result.

When and how deep do I plant potatoes?

When to plant

Match these relative steps to your local seasons. Where frost applies, use the last freezing night in spring and the first in fall. In frost-free climates, follow trusted local seasonal guidance.

  • Sow outdoors 0 to 3 weeks before your last spring frostPlant when the soil is workable and at least 45°F. Potatoes handle a light frost, but not a hard freeze.
  • Ready to pick about 90 to 120 days from sowing.

What you need

  • How to start itFrom seedYou can sow it straight into the ground.
  • How deep to plant3 to 5 in
    Planting depth: 3 to 5 in below the soil surface. Drawing is not to scale.
  • How far apart8 to 12 inLeave 24 to 36 in between rows.
    Leave 8 to 12 in between plants and 24 to 36 in between rows. View from above; drawing is not to scale.

What happens to potatoes through the year?

Measured from your last spring frost, because seasons differ from garden to garden. In frost-free climates, use trusted local seasonal guidance alongside these relative steps.

  1. Sow outdoors

    0 to 3 weeks before your last spring frost

How do I give potatoes a better start?

Simple ways to help your potato grow, from the soil up.

  • Start with good soil

    Add finished compost or other organic matter to help the soil stay loose, hold steady moisture and drain well.

  • Give the soil a cover

    After hilling, a thick layer of clean straw helps keep the soil cool and evenly moist.

  • Feed with care

    Follow a soil test. If more feeding is needed, add it as the plants begin active growth rather than late in the season.

Use a soil test before adding fertilizer. Wet, heavy ground raises the risk of rot and misshapen tubers.

When can I dig new potatoes?

Try a few once the plants have flowered, often about 6 to 8 weeks after planting.

Why are my potatoes green?

Light reached the tubers. Keep them covered with soil or mulch, and do not eat green parts.

Why are my potatoes misshapen or hollow?

Uneven moisture is one common cause. Keep the soil from swinging between very dry and very wet while tubers form.

Can I wash potatoes before storing them?

No. Brush off loose dry soil and wash them when you are ready to cook. Damp skins spoil faster in storage.

Quick answers about potato

One question each, answered first, with the source named.

  • When to Plant Potatoes

    When to plant potatoes depends on your last spring frost: plant from about 3 weeks before it up to the frost date, in soil of at least 45°F.

Helpful gardening guides

Dig into the next thing you need, from starting a garden to getting watering right.

  • Raised Bed Garden Guide for Beginners

    A raised bed garden guide for beginners: decide whether a bed helps, choose a reachable size, fill it with soil that drains, and keep it watered.

  • Watering Guide

    How to check the soil, water the root area, and avoid rigid schedules that do not fit your garden.

  • Sunlight Guide

    How to count direct sun, match crops to your space, and work with a garden that gets less light.

Starting your first garden? Choose your space and get it ready, then plan local planting times.

Browse all gardening guides

Also filed under: Vegetables

Where this came from

Advice varies with your climate and variety. Check the sources behind each section.

Sources & review dates
Timing
University of Maryland Extension, Growing Potatoes in a Home Garden · checked 2026-09-15
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, UC Master Gardener Program, Time of planting · checked 2026-09-24 · Where frost is rare, cool-season crops are timed to months averaging 55°F to 75°F.
Looking after it
University of Minnesota Extension, Growing potatoes in home gardens · checked 2026-09-15 · Hilling and mulch
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